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(253) 272-5226Ask nearly any Northeast Tacoma or Federal Way resident if speeding is a problem on Marine View Drive, and they’ll nod their head in agreement. As one of the primary routes connecting the area to SR-509 and Tacoma, this corridor remains a hot spot for people eager to get where they’re going or get home. Our own research a few years ago identified this area as one of Tacoma’s most dangerous roads.
But recent speed camera data revealed just how widespread the problem may be, with nearly 400,000 speeding detections recorded in a single month.
The city was well aware of the speeding happening in this area. In fact, residents petitioned the city to do something about it. To deter speeding, cameras were installed at two critical spots along the corridor: SR-509/Marine View Drive and Norpoint Way NE. Both locations have a posted speed limit of 40 mph.
On September 14, 2026, the cameras went live. For the next month, drivers received warnings instead of tickets. In essence, this was a grace period to alert drivers to the change. Actual citations began on October 14.
During the first month of operation, the cameras recorded about 515,000 vehicles passing through. Of those, nearly 400,000 speeding detections were recorded. In other words, a whopping 77% of vehicle passages were recorded above the posted 40 mph speed limit.
So how fast were people going?
It’s important to note that these are speeding detections, not necessarily 400,000 different drivers. A vehicle could be recorded more than once.
These numbers overwhelmed the vendor that processes citations and created a backlog. As a result, the city will issue citations to a randomly selected group of up to 100 registered vehicle owners per camera per day. There is also an undisclosed speed threshold that determines which vehicles are eligible for selection. In other words, it appears the city is focusing citations on drivers traveling at higher speeds, but the exact threshold has not been made public.
For drivers who receive a citation, the civil penalty is $145.
The area’s speed camera enforcement recently expanded into neighboring Federal Way, too. Beginning November 1, four existing school-zone camera locations began operating around the clock. These aren’t new cameras, but an expansion of enforcement hours at existing locations.
As we saw with the Marine View Drive and Norpoint Way cameras, there will be a short warning period during November for drivers caught speeding outside designated school-zone hours. Those violations can result in citations starting December 1. Note that school-zone violations during designated hours are still subject to citations during November. There’s no grace period for those violations.
While it can be a nuisance to receive a speeding citation, it can be devastating to be involved in a serious crash caused by speeding.
Higher speeds reduce reaction time and increase stopping distance. On top of that, crash forces and injury severity rise with speed, even with relatively modest increases.
Consider this: the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that speeding was a factor in 11,288 traffic deaths in 2024. Here in Washington state, speeding is a factor in about a third of all traffic fatalities (source: Target Zero).
Addressing speed is one of the most important things we can do to reduce traffic-related injuries and deaths and encourage safer roads for all users.
But familiarity doesn’t make a road safer. Staying alert and following posted speed limits matter every time we get behind the wheel.
This news story is a good opportunity to think about our own driving habits. What can you do to become a safer driver and, of course, avoid costly citations in the process?
Finally, we always encourage drivers to give themselves extra time. Drivers traveling from Northeast Tacoma to downtown often encounter unexpected delays near the port, including train stops and construction. Leaving a little earlier can help reduce the temptation to speed when traffic doesn’t cooperate.
While the camera data is certainly shocking, it puts numbers behind what many residents have been saying all along: these stretches of road have a serious speeding problem.
Safer roads require attention from drivers and communities alike. But even when we do our best to drive safely, we can’t control the behavior of everyone else on the road.
If you’ve been injured in a crash caused by a speeding driver, reach out to the attorneys at here Ladenburg Law. A case evaluation is free, and you’ll only pay a fee if we’re able to help you recover compensation.