Relates to adjudications and owner liability for a violation of traffic-control signal indications in Suffolk county

Section 2: Prohibits the registration or renewal of a motor vehicle application if an applicant has three or more outstanding red light camera violations under the foregoing provisions.

Section 3. Amends the VTL to add a new section 1111 (b) to authorize Suffolk County 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 4. Makes technical and conforming changes.

Section 5. Makes technical and conforming changes.

Section 6. Makes technical and conforming changes.

Section 7. Amends subdivision 2 of section 87 of the public officers law to include photographs, microphotographs, videotape or other recorded images prepared under authority of section 1111(b) of the VTL.

Section 8. Makes the purchase.or lease of equipment for establishment of red-light camera programs subject to section 103 of the general municipal law.

Section 9. 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 Suffolk county 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 Suffolk county through the placement of red light cameras at intersections throughout the county 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.