Assemblyman Dinowitz Announces New Legislation Addressing Red Light Camera Scam

News from Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz

                3107 Kingsbridge Avenue

                Bronx, New York 10463

                (718) 796-5345

                dinowitzj@assembly.state.ny.us

   

       Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Bronx) announced today that he is introducing new legislation that would prohibit traffic lights that have so called “red light cameras” at any location from being calibrated to change from green to red faster than a regular traffic signal.

A recent study of the issue by the American Automobile Association of New York has raised concerns that the traffic signals in question have a shorter yellow light than traffic signals that do not have a red light camera. According to AAA of New York, traffic lights equipped with red light cameras change from green to red 15% faster than signals that are not equipped with a camera. If the yellow lights are indeed shorter when there are red light cameras present, it would suggest that the use of red light cameras is motivated more by a desire to generate revenue than promote safety.

Assemblyman Dinowitz said, “I have long been a supporter of the addition of red light cameras in an effort to keep our streets, drivers, and pedestrians safer; however if the yellow lights at such intersections are even a millisecond shorter than at intersections without cameras in order to raise revenue, that would be a disgrace. Either city officials can correct this problem themselves, or this legislation will correct it for them.” 

UPDATE:

Saturday's New York Post had this on the issue:

A Bronx Democrat who suspects the city is just trying to make money off traffic fines is out to stop traffic lights from switching from green to red faster than usual.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz introduced legislation this week to prohibit traffic lights with red-light cameras from being calibrated to change earlier than regular traffic signals.

He cited a AAA of New York study — first reported by The Post — that found a 15 percent shorter change time at lights with cameras.

“If the yellow lights at such intersections are even a millisecond shorter than at intersections without cameras — in order to raise revenue — that would be a disgrace,” Dinowitz said.

“Either city officials can correct this problem themselves or this legislation will correct it for them.”

But City Hall is opposing “this unnecessary legislation,” said spokesman Mark Botnick.

“All yellow lights at intersections with red-light cameras are timed exactly the same way as other signals at other intersections and consistent with federal guidelines,” he insisted.

And Mayor Bloomberg recently dismissed the AAA study, saying, “Maybe if you think there’s less time, you won’t try to [run red lights]. I’m not sure why we give you any time at all. Running red lights kills people.”

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We want to add that it is the red light cameras in the city of Yonkers that drivers have to watch out for.