Author Note: Effective December 16, 2014, this program has been repeated in Nassau County. Any speed camera tickets issued before this date still must be paid.
Nassau County recently launched its speed cameras program. In total, 56 speed cameras will be installed by October, one in each of Nassau’s school districts. Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano predicts that the cameras will generate an estimated $25+ million each year.
By law, the cameras can only operate during public school hours between 6:00 am and 7:00 pm. Each violation of 10 mph or more over the posted speed limit will carry a $50 fine, and there will be a $25 penalty for failure to pay (meaning a grace is given to speeders between 1 and 9 mph over the limit).
Below is a list of 33 of the 56 speed camera locations in Nassau County:
- St. Christopher School 15 Pershing Blvd., Baldwin
- Merrick Avenue Middle School 1870 Merrick Ave., Merrick
- Charles Campagne School 651Plainview Rd., Bethpage
- East Meadow High School 101 Carman Ave., East Meadow
- Dutch Broadway School 1880 Dutch Broadway, Elmont
- John Street Elementary School 560 Nassau Blvd., Franklin Square
- Woodmere Middle School 1170 Peninsula Blvd., Hewlett
- Our Lady of Mercy School 520 South Oyster Bay Rd., Hicksville
- Island Trees Middle School 45 Wantagh Ave. S., Levittown
- Cantiague Elementary School 678 Cantiague Rock Rd., Jericho
- Gen. Douglas Macarthur High School 3369 Old Jerusalem Rd., Levittown
- Lido Elementary School 237 Lido Blvd., Lido Beach
- Shelter Rock Elementary School 27 Shelter Rock Rd., North Hills
- Unqua Elementary School 350 Unqua Rd., East Massapequa
- Chatterton School 108 Merrick Ave., Merrick
- New Hyde Park Road School 300 New Hyde Park Rd., New Hyde Park
- Camp Avenue School 1712 Merrick Ave., North Merrick
- Schwarting Elementary School 1 Flower Rd., North Massapequa
- Parkway School 300 Manetto Hill Rd., Plainview
- Centrennial Avenue School 140 West Centennial Ace., Roosevelt
- Harbor Hill School 3 Glen Cove Rd., Greenvale
- Seaford High School 1575 Seamans Neck Rd., Seaford
- Baylis Elementary School 580 Woodbury Rd., Plainview
- West Hempstead High School 400 Nassau Blvd., West Hempstead
- St. Brigid/Our Lady of Hope School 101 Maple Ave., Westbury
- Garden City High School 170 Rockaway Ave., Garden City
- William A. Shine Great Neck South High School 341 Lakeville Rd., Great Neck
- Lynbrook Noth Middle School 529 Merrick Rd., Lynbrook
- Malverne Sr. High School 75 Ocean Ave., Malverne
- Newbridge Road School 1601 Newbridge., Bellmore
- St. Peter of Alcantara School 1327 Port Washington Blvd., Port Washington
- Turtle Hook Middle School 975 Jerusalem Ave., Uniondale
- North Shore Middle School 505 Glen Cove Ave., Glenwood Landing
93 Comments. Leave new
Did Nassau County bring back school speed zone cameras? This afternoon I drove past a school with a “20 mph limit when lights are flashing” sign. The lights were not flashing, so I did not slow to 20. I’m worried that the lights were malfunctioning and that I will get a ticket in the mail, regardless.
Anonymous,
To date, speed camera tickets are not issued in Nassau County (and they have never been issued).
Matthew Weiss
Hi,
I was driving today from the Green Acres Mall area down Mill Road and passed a school there. I didn’t even realize I was driving over the speed limit near there. Today was Veteran’s Day and there was no school anyway. Do you think I’d still get a ticket?
Chani,
Given that the school was closed, then you are not supposed to receive a speed camera ticket. If you do, you can fight it based on the school’s closure.
Matthew Weiss
Anyone beat any of their tickets? I also received 7 on merrick road and I have a court date today.
Good luck today Ilona. These tickets are VERY hard to beat.
Matthew Weiss
Yes, and you were right about no amnesty. I went to court and it was an experience as it was ithe first time for me. The building was difficult to find if you do not have gps….which I don’t.
I hope I never experience going to traffic court again. The only good thing was I did not have to pay a late fee on the two tickets I received. I did not even bother to speak to the judge after discussing the tickets with the person at a podium.
Nightengale46,
I’m glad you could save the late fee. That, at least, covers your gas money to the court.
Congrats!
Matthew Weiss
Hi Mattew Weiss,
I was given a ticket on Nov 26 2014 at 5:15 pm. The entire school district had an early dismissal that day, since it was prior to Thanksgiving day. Should i fight this ticket?
thanks
PKT
Anonymous,
As you likely know, you received this ticket before this program was repealed. Tickets issued before 6:00 pm are valid based on my understanding. Therefore, I do not think that you’ll win despite the early dismissal that day. I know it is unfair and not within the spirit of school safety but, in my opinion, this program was designed more for money, than actual school safety.
Matthew Weiss
Hi Mr. Weiss. I received a ticket by great neck south high school on 12/8/14 for going 46mph at 5:21PM. The school mentioned dismissed its students at 233PM (close of final period as per school website on that date). My question is, do I have a chance of fighting this ticket seeing how it was issued nearly 3 hours after school had been dismissed? (From what I understand the tickets can only be administered during school hours?).
Thanks!
Nirav
Nirav Mehta,
This ticket is valid because it was issued before 6 pm.
Matthew Weiss
Then I guess I will keep my court date. Thank you for your response.
If the law was repealed why do we have to pay the ticket?
Anonymous,
The law repeating the Nassau speed cameras did not provide for any amnesty to those who violated the law prior to its repeal.
Matthew Weiss
I just received a notice in the mail from when I was back home for Thanksgiving. Since the school was closed on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving would I be able to protest this?
Ed,
Yes, the tickets are only supposed to be issued on school days.
Matthew Weiss
I wonder whose relative got the contract to provide the lights and related equipment? And then again, who did the principals in the outside agency which administers these revenue cameras know in Nassau County government?
Anonymous,
Can’t answer this question but effective tomorrow (December 16, 2014), the program is repealed!!!
Matthew Weiss
Hi Matthew.
Need some help. I have received two tickets over the last 3 months. None of these schools have blinking yellow lights or a sign which says that speeding is enforced by camera. Do I have a chance fighting these tickets? Where can I get a list of requirements which speeding camera has to meet? Thanks in advance
Alex,
You have a chance because Nassau County likely will be canceling its speed camera program. Monday, December 15th, the County Legislature will make a decision on this issue.
Matthew Weiss
I believe that these automated cameras violate due process. I see that in other states they have been ordered shut down due to this reason. Could you comment on this?
Lee,
In some other jurisdictions, the camera tickets can result in points or suspensions. In New York, they do not. Rather they are treated as akin to parking tickets. Therefore, the level of due process is less given that someone’s privilege to drive is not at stake in New York from such tickets.
Matthew Weiss
I was just on Peninsula Blvd going south from the Southern State Parkway along Hempstead Lake area and noticed two high poles with cameras attached in the center meridian not near any intersection, does anyone know if these are speed cameras?
Mike,
Is there a school nearby? If not, then they are speed cameras.
Matthew Weiss
Nope, no school. I guess my mailman will inform me. :-/ I was hoping maybe they were for the News12 Traffic channel
thanks Matthew
Mike,
My pleasure. Fingers crossed that you don’t get THAT letter.
Matthew Weiss
I pass these same camaeras several times a week amd have beem wary of them. Not so sure theyre speed cameras but dont take any chances. Is there anyway to confirm they are speed cameras becuase I didnt think they have them outside school zones in Nassau
Mike,
Nassau County is no longer issuing speeding ticket using speed cameras.
Matthew Weiss
So Mangano is the one responsible for this bullshit? If so, when is he up for re-election. That’s one election I want to be sure to vote in along with anyone I know that I can ask a favor of to vote against this goniff.
Anonymous,
Timely post. Newsday reported yesterday that Nassau County will install new signs with flashing lights in 56 school zones eligible for speed cameras. The $1 million project “is a response to mounting complaints from motorists about insufficient warning about school-zone speed limits and the presence of the cameras.”
Matthew Weiss
I have a legal question about utilizing the defense of double (and in many cases quadruple 4x) jeopardy because of getting (yes while at different times) 4 tickets in the same location within (my case) a 10 days period while it takes 3 weeks to receive the violation in the mail. If you receive a ticket from a human police officer it gives you the precedence means to alter your behavior. I’ve never received a moving violation in my 38 years of driving. The prevailing anger of Nassau residents is that the signage is purposely obscure as this is utilizing the rule that flashing lights on school signs is not a mandatory element. I did not see the signs, and to my point, I have not received a ticket since. Is the fact that tickets are mailed, the double jeopardy rule a reasonable defense that a judge might recognize or this indeed sets a precedence no elected judge will want to set? BTW the fines are $50 + $30 admin fee on each ticket, therefore for me totaling $400 of money,
Edward,
Because the offenses occurred at different times (although the same location), double jeopardy does not attach. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Matthew Weiss
As far as signs go they put a small one about less than a half block in front of the Our Lady of Mercy school and the next sign is to pick up speed to 40 miles is about a good 2 blocks after the school….the camera is just about right past the school…strategically planned to give you a ticket.
My son uses the family car to go to and from work. He received 4 tickets today from last week for speeding in a school zone, all in my husband’s name. I think if he received one ticket in person or 2 or even 3 days after he would have known to slow down, but not getting notification until almost a week later is counterproductive. The immediate lesson of getting a ticket is missing. Can we contest or file non responsibility because they weren’t sent or received in a timely fashion?
Anonymous Mom,
You can certainly try but I am not optimistic that this argument will get you very far.
Good luck and I’m sorry for your son’s misfortune
Matthew Weiss
This is the most ingenious way of raising taxes without raising taxes. All areas with and without Speed cameras should be Re-marked with bolder brighter signage to let everyone know that SAFETY is the issue(apparently the current signage is also a problem), not handing out tickets to the masses. This is going to be a major issue in the future and we need an organization to let the politicians know that they will pay for this at election time. I am sure the people will be very interested in clearing out these “sneaky” tricks that our great leaders have come up with to pay for their past budgetary in-effectiveness.
George,
From what I’ve be reading and hearing, you’re not alone in this opinion.
Matthew Weiss
Thanks for the reply re: Lido Beach on 10/17. I plan on fighting this one!
Good luck Denise!
Thanks for the information!
I just got a violation in the mail. The time of day was 5:42:23 PM. I was in Lido on 10/17 visiting for a funeral. The irony, my Aunt who passed was the county clerk in Long Beach for years!
I just checked the school calendar and dismissal time is 3:20 for Lido Elementary. I also checked the calendar to see if there were any events and there were NONE!
I just spoke with the violations bureau and he told me that the cameras stay on until 6:00 PM.
So basically, EVERYONE who is driving by between 4-6 is getting a violation. Talk about a moneymaker!
What do you think of that?
Anonymous,
Although Newsday previously reported that the speed cameras are only allowed to activate during schools hours (and 1 hour before and after), I have been told that the law was changed making the cameras active from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm during school days.
Matthew Weiss
There seems to be so many changes to the school speed camera laws in reference to the time enforced… within school hours (or 1 hr before and after), 6am -7pm, and from 7 to 9 a.m. and again from 2 to 4 p.m. My ticket was on Dec 1st at 9:32. What was the law on that day? How are we supose to know? In addition, there were no flashing lights and unvisble signs, since there was a bend in the road before the school. Is it worth trying to fight this?
Dominique,
In my opinion, I don’t think it is worth fighting. You likely won’t win.
Matthew Weiss
I just got a ticket going 39 at 5:27pm on October 1. And wasn’t that an early dismissal day? What are the hours of Our Lady of Mercy school on S. Oyster Bay Road ? Do these kids go to school at night? I will find another way home I suppose. A little longer but will save me $80.
Rikki Nelson,
You should check that school district’s website for hours that day. This may help you fight this ticket.
Matthew Weiss
I hear the school dismisses at 3pm. According to the locals every school zone is 7a-6p. I’m from Florida so I had no idea. I guess I will just pay it then. Will lose too much money taking off work for it.
Rikki,
Many people don’t bother to challenge these tickets because they are hard to win and minimal upside in beating them.
Matthew Weiss
Go back to Florida and enjoy the good life – get out of NY before it’s too late – Oops, it already is!
at this point with these cameras you know it’s only going to get worse that I’m afraid to driveyou know it’s only going to get more and more worse with the
Don’t you think it is a little odd that two people got tickets going past Our Lady of Mercy after school hours and doing the SAME speed.
Anonymous,
It sounds like that device may be set up wrong. If so, this is a good argument to fight the tickets issued there during “off hours”.
Matthew Weiss
Isn’t this whole scam an invasion of our privacy? It is being administered by an outside agency who now apparently have access to our driver’s license ID numbers, our addresses etc. just a matter of time till their systems are breached – will Nassau county then reimburse us for potential losses? I don’t understand how this isn’t unconstitutional.
Hope,
You raise some very interesting points. I’d love to see these raised in a court case.
Matthew Weiss
I would also! Aside from that they are supposed to check the cameras EVERY day….are they….I think they are not always correct. Is there any way of arguing this without someone saying they cameras never are wrong? The other day I rode past the school on Round Swamp Road in Bethpage. The digital sign clocked me in at 41 and I was doing 20…a crawl…and I had a witness in my car. I then braked lightly to 18 mph and the digital sign went up to 46 mph. I was livid to say the least. While the digital sign has nothing to do with the camera I am wondering if I am due for another ticket and how I will argue this one. This is really getting nuts.
Anonymous,
I can’t predict whether you’ll be getting a camera ticket but, if this occurred within school hours (or 1 hr before and after), then you very well may. Unfortunately, the nearby digital sign is not relevant to ones that issue the speed camera tickets.
Matthew Weiss
I called the county and the cameras are on until 6pm and give tickets up to that time. Also, if you slow down you must stay at the speed until you see another sign raising the speed limit….not just until you pass the school. Alot of distracted driving looking for signs that are not really that big.
Nightengale46,
Although the speed cameras initially were only active during school hours, school events and 1 hour before or after each, I have been told that the law was changed so that they are now active on school days from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm.
Matthew Weiss
The person I spoke to was in the Department of Public Works, Nassau County. If what you say is true than I should be able to fight the ticket I got at 4:27?
Fran,
You don’t have much to lose. Good luck fighting this ticket.
Matthew Weiss
Anonymous, I think I know what is going on here. I have seen that too. The digital signs typically take a few seconds to register then display your speed. So say the car in front of you is doing 41 and you’re doing 20. It will stay on 41, then see you, then show 20 mph as you’re about to pass it. When it jumped up to 46, perhaps it was seeing the person behind you?
I have received over 12 tickets for everyday since Sept 16th and each in the amount of $80. I don’t recall seeing any sign that a camera has been put in or any flashing light.
I see the sign now, Is there anyway to find our when the sign was erected? Flashing light is dangling seems to be holding up and tilted at about 45 degree angle and seems that it can fall any time.
I got my tickets from:
Cantiague Elementary School 678 Cantiague Rock Rd., Jericho
Imran,
Wow! That sounds like some record. You can find out information on the installation of the camera by making a Freedom Of Information Act request to the Nassau County Department of Public Works.
Matthew Weiss
Matthew, FOIA requests apply only to federal agencies, which the Nassau County [fill in the blank] is not.
Bob,
New York State has a Freedom of Information law too. Check out Public Officers Law §§ 84-90.
Matthew Weiss
Edward again. Followup- “Nonsense” is defined by the fact that the Newsday submitted it to the TPVA and was denied bc the they claim they are part of the judiciary when its actually administrative.
Here’s the detail from Newsday…
“David Bookstaver, director of communications for the state court system, said, “They are not a part of the court system.”
And to make things even clearer, let’s go to Robert Freeman, executive director of the Committee on Open Government, the expert on the state’s Freedom of Information Law.
“These are administrative agencies set up to administer parking programs,” he said. “The information is public under FOIL.” In fact, Freeman said, even if the counties were correct in recasting agencies as part of a court, information still would be public — under a different statute.
BTW I left you a voice mail. thanks
Edward,
Nice speaking with you today. In regard to you post, I believe that you’ll get your disclosure if you pursue this further.
Best,
Matthew Weiss
Mr Weiss. Newsday did file a FOIL request that was denied. I can get to the details of it, but it had to do with judicial jurisdiction that Newsday checked on it, and was determined to be nonsense. Nassau claims they will release the data, but it was certainly not going to be before last Tuesday’s election.
Edward,
Thanks for sharing this information. I’m not surprised. New York City denied a FOIL request that I made a few years ago seeking the locations of NYC red light cameras. The City claimed that divulging this information would impair law enforcement measures. I found the explanation shaky but did not pursue it further.
Matthew Weiss
Imran, Were you able to get that information. I got my ticket from there too…. did not see a sign.
What law/rule/agreement allowed the county to install speed cameras?
Anonymous,
The Legislature in Albany passed an enabling law.
Matthew Weiss
I just got two tickets in a row for the speed over limit at Our Lady of Mercy School @ Old Country Road….I know I crawled past the school at about 25 miles an hour but I came in at 36 miles on one and it was @ 4;30 pm…..no school activities…the other ticket was around the same speed….this is absolutely intimidating and I can not afford this as I am a senior citizen. I intend to contest both tickets as I think the camera is not working properly and there are no cars on the road on one ticket except mine…the other is after school hours.
Fran Nager,
Good luck fighting these tickets. Let us know how you make out.
Matthew Weiss
I got a ticket at Our Lady of Mercy School at Old Country Road as well. I know I was going the speed limit and the violation states 36 mph. It was 5:30 pm at night. No school activities going on at 5:30 pm. I checked the website and the school lets out at 3 pm. The law states they can only enforce the speed limit for 1 hour past the end of the school day.
Dana,
You’re right. You should plead not guilty and fight this one.
Good luck!
Matthew Weiss
Are there even signs posted at that location? Because I do not recall seeing any.
Rena
You may want to go back and check for signs.
Matthew Weiss
I find it disturbing that they do not give you the option to download a video of the incident. I got a red light ticket in the past, and you can actually download a video of the incident. With Speed Camera violations, they do not give you the option to download the video. I’d love to measure the distance between a few lines on the road and divide it by the time it took me to go from point A to Point B to see what my speed really was. I did some research and a lot of times they will bounce the first beam off your licence plate to get a measure of Time/Distance, then accidentally bounce the second one off of your side view mirror. Thus adding the length of your vehicle to the distance portion of the change in distance divided by change in time. This will speed up your measured speed. I also do not trust that they system is good enough to pick out one car out of a few cars in the area.
Do you know of a way i can get a copy of the video ?
Speed/Red Light Cameras are a huge violation of privacy and are absolutely about generating revenue. Its only a matter of time before speed cameras go up all over the place. I am glad my government can now keep tabs on every single place I drive. Speed Cameras, Red light cameras, EZ Pass. Any illusion people have of privacy are a complete joke.
Dave L,
These tickets and their adjudication is so new so I can only guess. IF you plead not guilty, I’d bet that the clerk at the court can show you the video.
Give it a try!
Good luck.
Matthew Weiss
I got one at 5:37pm. Isn’t this considered after school hours?
Anonymous,
Unless there was some type of school program or sporting event, this is a good argument for dismissal. The speeding camera tickets can only be issued during school hours (and one hour before and after).
Matthew Weiss
I got two in the past week for supposedly going 31 and 33mph in front of John Street School. Conservative speeds for Nassau Blvd. but apparently not slow enough to keep the revenue cameras from activating.
The incriminating images of my ordinary and safe driving show the sidewalks completely deserted with not a soul in sight.
I wonder if those cameras have ever caught an actual elementary school student walking to or from the school or playing on the grass in front. If not, how can this ‘school safety enforcement program’ be justified at this location and others where signs of life are so conspicuously absent?
At 4:30 in the afternoon when I usually drive past John Street School and the time of revenue camera clicks, you are more likely to encounter a Himalayan snow leopard on the road than a child.
There has got to be a less offensive and less dishonorable way of parasitizing the tax base than this.
I would wholeheartedly support a referendum to get rid of the cameras. I would support a county executive who opposed them. I would fervently support a candidate for county executive who advocated SMASHING the cameras to bits.
Any heroes out there?
I got 8 tickets over 2 weeks at the same 3 schools in Plainview. The first ticket I was going over the limit, but once I came home to that ticket – i started driving like a turtle through the school zone – but that didn’t prevent me from getting 7 more tickets. There is no question in my mind that there is a flaw in the system. I’m in the process of researching how the point to point camera system is calibrated and if there are any other point to point camera systems in the U.S.A. that have been shut down due to inaccuracy in recording speeds. I have found several so far, which causes great concern for me. As i said, I am positive that i wasn’t speeding any of these times and yet at 3 different schools within 15 blocks of each other I have accumulated these tickets. I think what might be happening is once I paid the first ticket – the contractor was able to search the system for any more appearances of my vehicle within the camera zones and automatically spits out violations even though I didn’t commit them. There may be another explanation but I have no doubt it will be somewhere along these lines. I plan on not only contesting these tickets but I’m also going to look into getting a referendum onto the ballot to get rid of the Nassau County School Camera program. I absolutely do not trust the results because I know for a fact that I wasn’t speeding for 7 of these tickets and yet I have 7 $80.00 tickets. That should be a tremendous concern for every person who drives within the county.
Lori,
Ouch! You should, therefore, plead not guilty. The People have the burden of proving their case (although keep in mind that these tickets are VERY hard to beat). Good luck!
Matthew Weiss
I also got ticket that I was speeding on 36MPH at 5:44p.m. I am trying to plead not guilty you think is this going to work out. does any one here have plead not guilty and got away or its hard to prove not guilty. if I plead not guilty they said I have to pay $25 extra is that true?
Fatmatinwala,
I haven’t heard about the extra $25 fee for fighting your case but I do agree that these tickets are tough to beat.
Matthew Weiss
I got suckered for TWO violations at Cantiague Elementary. One falls outside the 1 hour leeway of school dismissal time, so maybe I have a fighting chance on that one.
Sharon,
Sorry to hear about your misfortune. If outside the 1-hour period, then give it a shot.
Good luck!!
Matthew Weiss
Just got a ticket at MacArthur location won’t be spending any Christmas $$$ in Nassau this year one thing to pay the fine but a driver responsibility fee more like a driver ripoff fee!
Anonymous,
I have to agree. Only one other NYC traffic court charges such a fee (Suffolk SCTVPA) and they followed Nassau’s lead.
Matthew Weiss
There is not new signage or blinking yellow lights at Charles Campagne School 651Plainview Rd., Bethpage. Please add. thank you
Laura,
Thanks for sharing! Much aprpreciated. List updated.
Matthew Weiss