NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – The Nassau County Legislature approved an extension of Long Island’s red light cameras, potentially paving the way for a five-year continuation of the controversial program before a Dec. 1 expiration.
The vote was 11-6 in favor of requesting state legislators in Albany to extend the program until Dec. 1, 2029. The State Legislature must approve this extension for it to become effective.
Among the lawmakers, Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D-Glen Cove) who voted against the program, said that she believes the tickets should be cut to $50, like nearby Suffolk County instead of $150.
“In New York City, it’s also only $50,” DeRiggi-Whitton told WCBS 880 reporter Sophia Hall. “So the fact that we are so much higher than the others is something that absolutely should be examined.”
The majority of Republicans supported the program, while Democrats opposed it due to the steep fees the county charges compared to other municipalities.
Residents have expressed frustration over the program and its costs.
“I think it’s strange that you can get a ticket and you didn’t speak to an officer,” another resident said.
Many in Nassau County are skeptical about the program’s fairness. One local resident said, “The two that I got in the mail, I sure did deserve it. They’re very expensive. I think it should be capped. Maybe $50 sounds fair.”
Despite these concerns, lawmakers argue that the red light camera program has proven effective in reducing accidents and saving lives.
David Rich, executive director of the Nassau County Traffic and Parking Violation Agency, told legislators Monday, “Every year, since the inception of the program, we’ve seen a reduction in total crashes,” citing a 9% reduction in the program’s first year and 21% in its second, according to Newsday .
Residents are also questioning the use of the revenue generated by the program, which brought in $45 million for Nassau County last year. The county expects to generate $48 million in total red light camera revenue this year, according to the county Office of Legislative Budget Review.
“Regionally, red light cameras have reduced the number of accidents and increased public safety at the intersections at which they have been deployed,” the county legislature's presiding officer, Howard Kopel (R-Lawrence), said in a statement. “They encourage more responsible driving. We hope New York State approves the continuation of the program.”
State Senator Jack Martins (R-Old Westbury), the sponsor of the state legislation, anticipates that the State Legislature will act quickly on the extension, according to Newsday. The state legislative session concludes on June 6.
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