Lynnwood red light cameras operate at two intersections along 196th Street SW, with fines starting at $149 once the mandatory safety fee is added. The ticket goes to the registered owner of the vehicle, does not appear on your driving record, and can be paid, contested at a hearing, or transferred to whoever was actually driving.
Where the Cameras Are
Lynnwood monitors two red light intersections and one school zone with automated cameras:1City of Lynnwood. Traffic Cameras
- 196th St SW and 44th Ave W (red light)
- 196th St SW and 36th Ave W (red light)
- 184th St SW and 35th Ave W near Alderwood Middle School (school zone speed)
The school zone camera enforces the 20 mph limit only when the warning lights are flashing. Washington law requires signage visible to approaching drivers at least 30 days before any camera goes live, so a new sign in your neighborhood may indicate a location coming online.2MRSC. Automated Traffic Safety Cameras The 2024 state law broadened the categories of places where cameras are allowed, including public park zones, hospital zones, and high-crash corridors.
What a Ticket Costs
Red light infractions carry a flat $124 penalty.3City of Lynnwood. Infractions, Parking Tickets and Photo Enforcement School zone speed fines are graduated based on how far over 20 mph you were traveling:4Lynnwood Municipal Code. Lynnwood Code 11.18.050 – Fine
- 6–10 mph over: $150
- 11–15 mph over: $200
- 16–20 mph over: $250
- 21+ mph over: $290
Every camera fine also includes a mandatory $25 traffic safety fee that cannot be waived or reduced, even if a judge lowers the base fine at a hearing.4Lynnwood Municipal Code. Lynnwood Code 11.18.050 – Fine The real total for a red light ticket is $149, and school zone tickets run from $175 to $315 depending on speed.
People who receive certain public assistance benefits can request a 50% reduction on a first violation. The same discount applies to any additional violations that occur within 21 days of the first.
Your Driving Record and Insurance
Camera tickets in Lynnwood do not go on your driving record. State law excludes automated camera infractions from the driving records maintained by the Department of Licensing.5Washington State Legislature. RCW 46.63.220 The infractions are processed like parking tickets rather than moving violations, so no points accumulate and your insurance company will not see them through a standard records check. The financial penalty is the whole consequence, provided you actually pay the ticket.
Right Turns on Red
Right turns on red are one of the most common triggers for a camera ticket. Washington law allows a right turn on red after you come to a complete stop, yield to pedestrians, and wait for any vehicles already in the intersection to pass.6Washington State Legislature. RCW 46.61.055 Rolling through the turn without stopping, even at walking speed, counts as running the red light and will trigger the camera.
The system captures still images and a short video of the vehicle and license plate only. It cannot photograph the driver’s face or passengers.5Washington State Legislature. RCW 46.63.220 If you received a ticket for a right turn, review the video before deciding what to do. You’ll see whether your wheels actually stopped or just slowed, which is the difference between a valid ticket and one worth contesting.
How to Respond
Lynnwood mails a Notice of Infraction to the vehicle’s registered owner. The notice includes a Notice Number and PIN printed at the top, which you use to view the video and photos online.3City of Lynnwood. Infractions, Parking Tickets and Photo Enforcement Watch it first. You have three options after that:
- Pay the fine. You can pay online through the Lynnwood Municipal Court’s payment portal with a credit or debit card, or mail a check using the return envelope. If you need more time, call the court to set up a payment plan.
- Request a mitigation hearing. You admit the violation but explain the circumstances to a judge and ask for a reduced fine. This works best when there were unusual conditions, such as a medical emergency or confusing road construction.7City of Lynnwood. Municipal Court
- Request a contested hearing. You deny that a violation occurred and ask the judge to dismiss the ticket. This is the route if the video shows you stopped before your right turn on red, or if you believe the camera malfunctioned.7City of Lynnwood. Municipal Court
To request either type of hearing, check the appropriate box on the response coupon and mail it back. The court will send a letter confirming your date and time. Watch the response deadline on the notice; missing it can add penalties.
If Someone Else Was Driving
Because the ticket is issued to the registered owner, you may receive one for someone else’s driving. In that case you can file an Affidavit of Non-Responsibility. The form requires your signature under penalty of perjury and the name and address of the person who was actually driving.3City of Lynnwood. Infractions, Parking Tickets and Photo Enforcement Simply stating that it wasn’t you is not enough; you have to identify the driver.
If the vehicle was stolen at the time of the violation, you can submit a sworn statement to that effect instead, ideally supported by a police report.
If You Ignore the Ticket
Because these infractions are processed as parking violations under state law, an unpaid ticket can block your vehicle registration renewal.5Washington State Legislature. RCW 46.63.220 The court can also send the debt to a collection agency, which adds collection fees on top of the original fine. A $149 red light ticket can turn into a much larger balance if it sits in a drawer.
If you’ve already missed the deadline, contact the Lynnwood Municipal Court directly. Courts are generally more willing to work with you before a case goes to collections than after.