Authorizes city of Buffalo to establish a demonstration program imposing monetary liability on vehicle owners who fail to comply with traffic control indicators

Section 2. Amends section 235 of the VTL to make technical changes.

Section 3. Amends VTL section 235 to make technical changes.

Section 4. Amends subdivision 1 of section 236 of the VTL to make technical changes.

Section 5. Amends subdivision 1 of section 236 of the VTL to authorize the city of Buffalo to adopt a local law establishing a red light camera demonstration program at fifty intersections throughout the county and imposing monetary fines for violations thereof. The section further outlines the parameters for establishment of such a program as well as penalty provisions.

Section 6. Amends subdivision 10 of section 237 of the VTL to make technical changes.

Section 7. Amends section 237 of the VTL to add a new subdivision 10.

Section 8. Amends paragraph f of subdivision 1 of section 239 of the VTL to define a notice of violation.

Section 9. Amends paragraph f of subdivision 1 of section 239 of the vehicle and traffic law regarding notices of violation.

Section 10. Amends subdivisions 1 and 1-a and paragraphs a and g of subdivision 2 of section 240 of the VTL regarding technical changes to notices of hearing.

Section 11. Amends subdivisions 1 and 1-a and paragraphs a and g of subdivision 2 of section 240 of the VTL regarding formal notices of hearings, contesting of fines, and records of hearings.

Section 12. Amends subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 241 of the VTL regarding hearing officers, and hearings.

Section 13. Subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 241 of the VTL is amended regarding contestation of liability.

Section 14. Paragraph a of subdivision 5-a of section 401 of the VTL makes technical amendments to the VTL.

Section 15. Paragraph a of subdivision 5-a of section 401 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended to prohibit the registration or renewal of a motor vehicle if an applicant has three or more

outstanding red light camera violations under the foregoing provisions.

Section 16. Amends the VTL to add a new section 1111(b) to authorize the city of Buffalo to adopt a local law establishing a red light camera demonstration program at no more than fifty intersections throughout the city and imposing monetary fines for violations thereof. The section further outlines the parameters for establishment of such program as well as penalty provisions.

Section 17. The opening paragraph and paragraph (c) of subdivision 1 of section 1809 of the VTL is amended to make technical changes.

Section 18. Subdivision 1 of section 1809 of the VTL is amended to make technical changes.

Section 19. Paragraph a of subdivision 1 of section 1809-e of the VTL is amended to make technical changes.

Section 20. Subdivision 2 of section 87 of the public officers law is amended by adding a new paragraph k to include photographs, microphotographs, videotape or other recorded images prepared under authority of section 1111 (b) of the VTL.

Section 21. Makes the purchase or lease of equipment for establishment of red light camera programs subject to section 103 of the general municipal law.

Section 22. Establishes the effective date and sunset of such program.

Existing law

New York city is currently the only municipality authorized to have a demonstration program utilizing red light cameras.

Justification

In 1988 the New York State legislature enacted legislation that allowed New York city to establish a demonstration program to install photo monitoring devices to record vehicles going through red light signals at traffic intersections. "Red Light Camera Programs" have proven to be an effective traffic safety measure that prevent injuries and the loss of life due to accidents caused by red light running.

Since its inception in December of 1993, hundreds of thousands of vehicles, including buses and taxicabs, have been caught going through red lights by the traffic control monitoring devices in New York city. In calendar year 2005 alone, 306,117 violations or Notices of Liability ("NOLs") were issued to violators.

A large number of traffic accidents resulting in bodily injury and death to motorists, passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists are due to the failure of motorists to obey traffic control signals located at intersections. "Right angle" and pedestrian accidents attributed to red light running are among the leading causes of traffic fatalities. By reducing the number of vehicles running red lights, the likelihood of "right angle" and pedestrian type accidents is reduced. The extended use of these devices has been shown to dramatically reduce the number of violations at the intersections being monitored.

Red Light Camera Programs have proven to be an effective traffic safety initiative whose success has been recognized by the State Legislature and the New York City Council in their repeated authorizations to extend the initial demonstration program. This legislation would authorize the city of Buffalo to follow New York city's lead by allowing its city council to establish such a demonstration program to further promote safety and decrease motor vehicle accidents. PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY : None.

Local fiscal implications

This bill will increase revenue for the city of Buffalo through the placement of red light cameras at intersections throughout the city should a local law be adopted to establish such a program.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law and shall expire on December 1, 2014.