Author Note: Effective December 16, 2014, this program has been repealed in Nassau County. Any speed camera tickets issued before this date still must be paid.
Last week, Nassau County started installing speed cameras within local school zones. The first three schools to receive these devices are Plainedge Middle School in Bethpage, Dutch Lane Elementary in Hicksville and Abbey Lane School in Levittown. All three schools (which are open for summer school), each received a “mobile unit” — an unmarked van equipped with two cameras and a radar machine.
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 (plus an hour before and after school) along with a half-hour before, during and after school events. 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).
But that is not the only bad news. Suffolk County will be installing 69 speed cameras near some of its grade schools in 2015.
Update: Nassau County is forgiving $2.4 million in speed camera fines issued in July/August 2014. County Executive Edward Mangano says there were problems with the cameras installed at six school locations. He told Newsday that five cameras issued tickets on days when school was not in session. Cameras at a sixth location began operating prematurely.