Last Updated on August 30, 2023 by Lawrence Berezin
Will Albany renew the school zone speed camera law?
Jane rushed out of her apartment at 8 a.m., ran to her car, jumped in, buckled up, and headed for a drive to her job in Manhattan. Meanwhile, Jane was in an absolute tizzy thinking about the upcoming one-on-one with her boss at 8:30 a.m. She can’t be late for her meeting. Above all, her raise and promotion depend on it.
Part of Jane’s journey took her past an elementary school. However, Jane wasn’t thinking about the small crowd of children walking to school. And the parents trying to find some space to drop off their kids. She was running late and had to keep her foot on the gas and her eye on the prize.
Sadly, it was over in the blink of an eye. Jane is not going to make her meeting.
Could a school zone speed camera with all the flashing lights and signs have alerted Jane to the danger ahead?
Larry’s Update
Albany lawmakers on Thursday afternoon, May 19, 2022, reached a deal to renew and expand the city’s speed camera program, keeping them on 24/7 — but the sausage was made only after critical provisions of the bill that would help keep reckless drivers off the road were gutted by state lawmakers.
“Deal locked down late this afternoon. Three-year extension with 24/7 cameras,” confirmed state Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Brooklyn) in a text message to Streetsblog. But Gournardes declined to comment on the loss of key parts of the bill that would have suspended car registrations for owners who got excessive speeding tickets, forced the DMV to inform insurance companies of their clients’ repeat recklessness, and raised the ticket fines on drivers for multiple offenses.
[Source: Streetsblog]
School zone speed camera law
In 2013 the New York State Legislature and Governor Cuomo enacted Sec.1180-b of New York State’s Vehicle and Traffic Law (VTL), which granted New York City the authority to pilot an automated speed enforcement program to deter speeding in 20 school speed zones.
The first-speed camera violation was issued in January 2014. In June 2014, the pilot was expanded to a total of 140 school speed zones, in order to support the pursuit of the City’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries.
New York City
Automated Speed Enforcement Program
2014–2020 Report
Currently, there are speed cameras in 750 school zones. They operate Monday-Friday, 6 a.m.-10 p.m.
When the cameras catch a vehicle going more than 10 miles per hour over the speed limit, a $50 fine is mailed to the registered owner. Last year, the cameras issued 4,369,250 tickets, up from 1,287,968 tickets in 2017.
NY Times
NYC Council takes action to trigger a renewal of the law
City Council members voted 43-7 on Thursday, May 26, 2022 to approve a measure to make cameras in school zones run 24/7 year-round.
The measure has been long-sought by traffic safety advocates, who have decried the current state-mandated set up in which those cameras only operate from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and not on weekends.
The Council vote dovetailed with state bills shepherded by state Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Deborah Glick to renew the speed camera program for three more years and expand its hours to round-the-clock.
Gounardes said the Council members’ vote will effectively put the state bill on a fast track.
“Now the Legislature can take up S5602 and pass it next week, sending this crucial measure to the Governor’s desk,” he tweeted.
State lawmakers have until June 2 — which is when the legislative session ends — to pass the measure.
patch nyc
A Timely Guide to Fighting Evil NYC Camera Violations
The Evil Empire and its minions have eyes on you in school zones, bus lanes, intersections, and more places than you can shake a stick at. So, it behooves you to learn how to beat an unjust camera ticket.
If the eye in the sky sends a $50 epistle your way, make sure it was issued correctly.
Check out Larry’s guide to fighting camera tickets. It’s FREE. Just click on the pretty button.
The NY State Senate Bill S5602B
The sponsors of Senate Bill S5602B have been working tirelessly to get it passed before time expires. Meanwhile, state senator Andrew Gounardes is optimistic that the bill will pass:
“I feel reasonably confident that the Legislature is going to renew the speed camera program and at a minimum, extend the hours to operate 24/7,” Sen. Gounardes told Gothamist. “And we’re still discussing ways to crack down on recidivist drivers.”
Can you beat a school zone speed camera ticket?
According to the Evil Empire, there are some defenses that may result in a dismissal. Your evidence must show:
- The ticket was issued outside of the enforceable days or hours.
- You are not the owner of the vehicle ticketed. For example, there were other cars near yours at the time of occurrence, and the camera captured the wrong car.
- The camera malfunctioned on the date of occurrence.
- Your car was stolen and not recovered before the occurrence.
Here’s an excellent post by a great guy who explained how he beat a red-light camera ticket.
Commentary
Speed kills, and so do guns. Likewise, selling assault rifles to a mentally ill 18-year-old boy kills.
First Amendment
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Second Amendment
“A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
Meanwhile, why does the Constitution allow laws that prohibit yelling “fire” in a crowded theatre? In other words, freedom of speech is not absolute.
Nor is it the right for all people to keep and bear arms. If that were the case, why can’t a 10-year-old legally buy an assault rifle? There is no age requirement specifically set forth in the Constitution.
The majority of people are in favor of the reasonable regulation of firearms. Yet, the Senate refuses to act.
Maureen Dowd writes in the Sunday NY Times
“The political debates here are empty and soulless, with Democrats dodging the issue and Republicans hardening even on mild proposals like universal background checks, which has overwhelming public approval.
‘Most Republicans in the Senate represent deeply conservative states where gun ownership is treated as a sacred privilege enshrined in the Constitution, a privilege not to be infringed upon no matter how much blood is spilled in classrooms and school hallways around the country,” Carl Hulse wrote in The Times.’
Republicans throw up a fog of nonsensical suggestions. Before speaking to the N.R.A. Friday, Ted Cruz said schools should have only one entry point, with an armed guard. Guns don’t kill people. Doors do. During his speech at the N.R.A., Trump suggested turning schools into virtual jails and letting teachers pack pistols in class.”
Maureen dowd, NY Times
My prayers go out to all the families in Uvalde, Texas. Above all, the parents, grandparents, and relatives of the angels were taken from you way too soon. “When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.”
Lastly, my prayers to all the past and future victims of gun violence and their families.
When is enough enough?
Related Posts
24/7 for School Zone speed camera is another way for NYC DoF to rob the public drivers.
On another note, I will be emailing the Queens (Kew Gardens/Flushing) Councilman to complain against the ALJ (Bruce Mael) for failing to enforce VTL 237(8); then I will call out his name and any other city officials that defy the VTL 237(8) Law on social media.
Why can’t someone sue the State of NY for illegal use of the speed cameras? The other States got sued and won and the speed cameras got taken away. Why can’t cops issue jaywalk tickets for all the pedestrians who are jaywalking and caused most of the accidents?
Hi Tony,
Good afternoon.
Thanks for sharing your comment with us.
Much appreciated.
Regards,
Larry
When is Albany going to pass laws requiring parking permits for parking vehicles overnight on residential areas. The amount of cars that are parked with out of state license plates is increasing. I would estimate that almost half of the cars on the streets out on the boroughs of New York have out of state plates yet those car owners live full time in the boroughs of New York.
With regards to the 24/7 cameras it is an easy grab against the law abiding New Yorkers. How about all those cars with the out of state plates in which some of them are just plates but not even registered with any state. And what about all those illegal motorcycles and scooters. Those cars will enjoy driving illegally with no accountability yet the New Yorkers who follow the laws will be picking up all the fine tabs.
Hi Dave,
You raise some important issues.
Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Regards,
Larry
No because school zone speed restrictions aren’t effective 24/7
Not yet, but…
Now it’s on to the Assembly.
The state Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly passed Sen. Andrew Gounardes’s bill to reauthorize New York City’s school-zone speed camera program, and allow the cameras to be operated all day, every day, but not before a group of mostly Republican drivers who are soft on speeding complained that the program is just a “money grab.”
The bill passed 51-12. It had already been watered down of its boldest provisions, including those that would have stripped cars of registrations for 90 days if drivers accrued multiple tickets, created an escalating fine schedule for repeat offenders, and forced the DMV to notify insurance companies about their clients’ recklessness.
Thanks for your comment, Tom!
Regards,
Larry
Larry, thanks for your excellent and informative website & blog. Now that the school speed zone rule is 24/7, I wanted to know if pleading not guilty and requesting an in person hearing can result in a lesser fine or if there is any way to plea bargain down the $50 fine?
Thanks in advance,
Adam
Hi Adam,
Good afternoon.
Sorry for the delay in replying.
But, thanks so much for your kind comment.
No, I’m afraid pleading not guilty and requesting an in-person hearing will not result in a lesser fine unless you have a winning defense to the camera ticket. You may wish to check with Matt Weiss, Esq., who specializes in moving violations to see if he can add some insights for you.
The settlement reduction program expired in 2011.
Good luck, Adam.
Regards,
Larry