NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6453
SPONSOR: DenDekker TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in
relation to authorizing the city of New York to install photo speed
violation monitoring systems in every school speed zone in such city;
and to amend chapter 189 of the laws of 2013 amending the vehicle and
traffic law and the public officers law relating to establishing in a
city with a population of one million or more a demonstration program
implementing speed violation monitoring systems in school speed zones by
means of photo devices, in relation to eliminating the expiration and
repeal of the provisions thereof
PURPOSE:
Lifts the numerical cap on the use of photo speed enforcement cameras to
include all school zones within the city of New York, and makes perma-
nent the photo speed monitoring program originally established in the
city of New York through the laws of 2013
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Sections 1, 2 and 3 amend Paragraph I of Subdivision (a) of Section
1180-b of the Vehicle and Traffic Law by lifting the cap on the use of
photo speed enforcement cameras in the city of New York to permit the
use of such devices in all school zones within the city of New York.
Section 4 sets forth the effective date of the legislation.
JUSTIFICATION:
In 2013, the Legislature approved a limited demonstration program to be
orchestrated by the City of New York, through which the New York City
Department of Transportation was authorized to install photo speed moni-
toring enforcement systems (e.g., "speed cameras") within some of the
City's reduced speed school zones. However, this program was limited to
140 cameras Citywide. Further, temporal restrictions were placed on the
operation of these cameras, limiting their use to periods during school
hours, as well as an hour before and after the commencement of the
school day, as well as during a period of student activities at a
school, as well as a half hour before and after this activity period.
In its short history, this program has proven to be a success. Media
reports indicate that as the New York City Department of Transportation
installed speed cameras at particular intersections, the rate of speed-
ing at some locations has dropped more than sixty percent. There is no
question that speeding is the determining factor in a large number of
the traffic fatalities facing New York City annually, including hit-and-
run incidents. According to media reports, the New York City Department
of Transportation found that upon installation, speed cameras issued an
average of 192 violations per day, which dropped to an average of 69
violations only eight months later.
Simply put, the presence of speed cameras has had the positive effect of
slowing down drivers. Though the financial cost of speed cameras to
drivers could be high, the cost involved with a persistent loss of life
is a greater one. It is sensible public policy to reduce traffic inju-
ries and fatalities through the expanded installation of speed cameras
in New York City school zones.
Given the great success of the demonstration program to date, it is also
sensible to make permanent the provisions relative to the use of speed
camera enforcement technologies in New York City.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPACT:
TBD.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately, except that section one of this
act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a
law; provided that the amendments to paragraph 1 of subdivision (a) of
section 1180-b of the vehicle and traffic law, made by section one of
this act, shall not affect the expiration and reversion of such para-
graph pursuant to section 12 of chapter 43 of the laws of 2014, as
amended, when upon such date section two of this act shall take effect.
