Ruston Police Department

08/21/2026

***CORRECTION TO THE ORIGINAL POST***

8/27/2026
The automatic traffic safety cameras have been operating in a test and calibration phase only. No violation data has been recorded and no written warnings will be issued until our next update. Thanks for your patience.

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Original Post:

Automatic traffic safety cameras in Ruston are now operational. Vehicles going 6+ MPH over the posted speed limit will receive a warning letter for the next 30 days. A reminder of the locations:

-N. Baltimore St at N. Commercial St.
-N. 51st east of N. Winnifred St.
-4900 block of N. Pearl St.

Important things to know:

These are not Flock system cameras. These speed cameras have a completely different purpose and share no information or commonality with Flock.

This is a traffic safety program for areas where residents often complain about vehicle speeds but are difficult for us to enforce with traditional practices (N. 51st St and N. Baltimore St locations) or staffing (at the N. Pearl St location).

The municipal parks we are trying to keep safe existed and were zoned as such long before the introduction of the public park safety zone laws passed by the State of Washington.

Our program conforms with all Washington State laws, and our Public Park Safety Zone and related ordinances were developed and/or confirmed by two separate legal firms in Seattle and Bellevue.

Our system of providing contested hearings to those who request them mirrors that of the City of Mukilteo and the State of Washington Department of Transportation.

The Department's motive is to answer our residents' call for safety, support Ruston's Comprehensive Plan, and to decrease the number of potential and actual collisions (and the injuries which result from them) to as close to ZERO as possible.

07/10/2026

CITY OF RUSTON PRIORITIZES PEDESTRIAN SAFETY WITH NEW AUTOMATED SPEED ENFORCEMENT CAMERAS TO BEGIN OPERATING ON ABOUT SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2026.

BACKGROUND
On February 17, 2026, the Ruston City Council officially adopted Ordinance No. 1599, establishing the city’s automated traffic safety camera program pursuant to Chapter 46.63 RCW. This initiative follows comprehensive traffic studies identifying approximately 4 million vehicles traveling through Ruston annually, with 14% exceeding safety speed thresholds. The program aligns with Ruston’s Comprehensive Plan to remain a safe, walkable community by utilizing legal frameworks that include public park speed zones and high-risk traffic areas.
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Purpose of the Ruston Speed Safety Camera Program
The City of Ruston, in collaboration with NovoaGlobal, is launching this program to improve roadway safety and protect pedestrians and residents. This initiative focuses on:
• Park and Speed Safety: Reducing vehicle speeds in areas where families, children, and pets are most active.
• Data-Driven Prevention: Addressing identified speeding trends to decrease high-speed collisions.
• Unbiased Enforcement: Utilizing automated technology to objectively target speed, ensuring consistent enforcement for all motorists.
• Efficient Resource Allocation: Allowing the Ruston Police Department to maintain a safety presence in high-risk zones without diverting officers from other emergency calls.
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Implementation Timeline
To ensure the community is well-informed, the program follows a phased rollout:
• Warning Period: Once cameras are operational, a one-month warning period will commence. During this time, violators receive a warning notice in the mail with no monetary penalty.
• "Go Live" Date: Following the 30-day warning period, actual Notices of Infraction (NOI) carrying monetary fines will be issued.
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Enforcement Locations
The program focuses on commonly driven roads, specifically targeting park areas and high-risk zones:
• Winnifred Park Area: North 51st St.
• Rust Park Area: N. Baltimore St.
• High-Risk Zones: North Pearl Street at North 49th Street.
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Fine Structure
In accordance with local safety guidelines, fine amounts are determined by the recorded speed over the limit:
Speed Over Limit Fine amount after 30-day warning period
6 + MPH $145
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Legal Framework & Transparency
• Ordinance No. 1599: The local law governing the program's authority.
• Civil Infractions: Violations are processed as civil infractions; they are not reported to insurance companies and do not appear on a driver’s license operating record.
• Signage: All enforcement zones are clearly marked with signage alerting motorists to speed enforcement.
• Revenue Reinvestment: Revenue from citations is reinvested into public safety programs and traffic-calming improvements within the Ruston community.
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Summary: A Safer Ruston for All
By utilizing automated technology in City Park areas and high-traffic corridors, the City of Ruston aims to eliminate dangerous speeding and protect our most vulnerable road users.

06/28/2026

As we have experienced in years past, Tacoma's Summer Bash event at Dune Peninsula will cause severe traffic backups in Ruston after the fireworks display. Please be prepared for up to 2 hours delay when leaving the Pointe Ruston area.

Have a safe and fun Fourth of July on America's 250th anniversary!!

04/09/2026

12/17/2025

Ruston PD awards presented at the city counsel meeting by Chief Bautista.

12/17/2025

Officer Sovann, Officer Hansen, Officer Barlow, and Sergeant Lake have all been presented departmental awards by Chief Bautista. Congratulations!