A Holiday Drive Needs A Camera Check

Before a holiday drive, I need one extra check next to gas, snacks, and the diaper bag: where the construction cameras are.

Washington’s work-zone speed camera fines are real now. The first ticket is $125. That changes how I think about routes like I-405, I-5, SR 99, and SR 522 when the map says everything is only 12 minutes slower.

My quick version:

• check WSDOT before leaving, not after buckling everyone in
• assume the lane shift is worse than the app says
• set the cruise control lower through work zones
• add ten minutes if a ferry, trailhead, or pickup window is involved
• don’t use the left lane as a mood stabilizer

This is not about fear of tickets. It is about not letting a rushed drive turn a normal outing into a $125 errand.