A bill has been submitted in Albany to dramatically increase the number of red light cameras as well as the fines associated with such tickets. The bill would expand the Red Light Camera Traffic Safety Program to include the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers as well as Nassau and Suffolk counties. It would also eliminate the 100-intersection cap on the number of intersections in which cameras can be installed.
The bill would also increase the maximum fine from $50 to $100 for each violation, and statutory authorization for red ligth cameras would be permanent.
Since red light cameras were first authorized in 1993, law makers claims that they have played an integral role in reducing the number of violations (40%-60%) at intersections being monitored and as well as injuries at monitored locations. However, there are many studies which contradict this efficacy of red light cameras.
In any event, there can be no doubt that politicians will approve the bill for a different reason … money. The expansion is estimated to raise $100 million to $233 million per year for New York City and approximately $50 million for the other eligible cities and counties combined.
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