What's happening
This bill authorizes Westchester County to implement red light camera enforcement, establishes owner liability for violations, and creates a county traffic and parking violations agency.
Why it matters
Creates a new owner liability for red light violations. The bill makes the registered owner of a vehicle liable for red light violations detected by cameras, even if they were not driving—unless the actual operator is convicted or the car was stolen. This shifts responsibility from drivers to owners, encouraging owners to ensure their vehicles are operated lawfully.
Establishes detailed procedures and protections for camera enforcement. The bill specifies how violations are recorded, noticed, and adjudicated, including privacy protections (e.g., minimizing images of occupants), defenses (e.g., stolen vehicles, malfunctioning signals), and limits on penalties ($50 plus possible late fees). It also ensures that camera-based violations do not affect insurance rates or driving records, focusing enforcement on compliance rather than punishment.
Creates new county bureaucracy and reporting requirements. By forming a Westchester County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency, the bill centralizes ticket processing and adjudication, potentially improving efficiency and consistency. The agency must also provide annual reports on the program’s impact (locations, accident data, revenues, expenses, adjudication quality), allowing for public accountability and review.
Adjusts financial and administrative rules to integrate the new system. The bill amends various finance and municipal laws to handle fine collection, distribution, and surcharges for the new agency, and clarifies the roles of local courts and county officials. It also includes sunset provisions (5-year expiration), requiring periodic review and reauthorization, which can help assess whether the program is effective or needs adjustment.
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Who cares
Westchester County government
The bill would authorize red-light cameras at up to 100 county-controlled intersections and establish a traffic and parking violations agency under the county executive.
Vehicle owners driving in Westchester
Owners could face camera-based penalties of up to $50 per violation, plus up to $25 for failing to respond, without the liability affecting their driving records or insurance.
Vehicle rental and leasing companies
Lessors could transfer liability to lessees by submitting the required contract and identifying information within 37 days after receiving notice from the court.
Westchester local court employees
The bill would protect nonjudicial employees from reductions in salary, employment status or rights solely because of the bill’s operation.
Headline styles
Westchester Red Light Camera Program
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Westchester Traffic Agency, Red Light Cameras
In Senate Committee · Rules · Sponsor Andrea Stewart-Cousins
Full text
25 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
11149
IN ASSEMBLY
June 11, 2018
Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Pretlow) -read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, the public officers law, the general municipal law, the state finance law, and the judiciary law, in relation to establishing the adjudication process and owner liability for failure of an operator to comply with traffic-control indications and establishing a traffic and parking violations agency in the county of Westchester; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subparagraph (i) of paragraph a of subdivision 5-a of section 401 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by section 8 of chapter 222 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
(i) If at the time of application for a registration or renewal thereof there is a certification from a court, parking violations bureau, traffic and parking violations agency or administrative tribunal of appropriate jurisdiction that the registrant or his or her representative failed to appear on the return date or any subsequent adjourned date or failed to comply with the rules and regulations of an administrative tribunal following entry of a final decision in response to a total of three or more summonses or other process in the aggregate, issued within an eighteen month period, charging either that: (i) such motor vehicle was parked, stopped or standing, or that such motor vehicle was operated for hire by the registrant or his or her agent without being licensed as a motor vehicle for hire by the appropriate local authority, in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or of any law, ordinance, rule or regulation made by a local authority; or (ii) the registrant was liable in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-a, section eleven hundred eleven-b or section eleven hundred eleven-d of this chapter for a violation of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter; or (iii) the registrant was liable in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-c of this chapter for a violation of a bus lane restriction as defined in such
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD16249-01-8
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section[,]; or (iv) the registrant was liable in accordance with section eleven hundred eighty-b of this chapter for a violation of subdivision (c) or (d) of section eleven hundred eighty of this chapter[,]; or (v) the registrant was liable in accordance with section eleven hundred eighty-c of this chapter for a violation of subdivision (c) or (d) of section eleven hundred eighty of this chapter; or (vi) the registrant was liable in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-e of this chapter for a violation of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter; or (vii) the registrant was liable in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-f of this chapter for a violation of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter, the commissioner or his or her agent shall deny the registration or renewal application until the applicant provides proof from the court, traffic and parking violations agency or administrative tribunal wherein the charges are pending that an appearance or answer has been made or in the case of an administrative tribunal that he or she has complied with the rules and regulations of said tribunal following entry of a final decision. Where an application is denied pursuant to this section, the commissioner may, in his or her discretion, deny a registration or renewal application to any other person for the same vehicle and may deny a registration or renewal application for any other motor vehicle registered in the name of the applicant where the commissioner has determined that such registrant's intent has been to evade the purposes of this subdivision and where the commissioner has reasonable grounds to believe that such registration or renewal will have the effect of defeating the purposes of this subdivision. Such denial shall only remain in effect as long as the summonses remain unanswered, or in the case of an administrative tribunal, the registrant fails to comply with the rules and regulations following entry of a final decision.
§ 1-a. Paragraph a of subdivision 5-a of section 401 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by section 8-a of chapter 222 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
a. If at the time of application for a registration or renewal thereof there is a certification from a court or administrative tribunal of appropriate jurisdiction that the registrant or his or her representative failed to appear on the return date or any subsequent adjourned date or failed to comply with the rules and regulations of an administrative tribunal following entry of a final decision in response to a total of three or more summonses or other process in the aggregate, issued within an eighteen month period, charging either that: (i) such motor vehicle was parked, stopped or standing, or that such motor vehicle was operated for hire by the registrant or his or her agent without being licensed as a motor vehicle for hire by the appropriate local authority, in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or of any law, ordinance, rule or regulation made by a local authority; or (ii) the registrant was liable in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-b of this chapter for a violation of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter; or (iii) the registrant was liable in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-c of this chapter for a violation of a bus lane restriction as defined in such section; or (iv) the registrant was liable in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-d of this chapter for a violation of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter or (v) the registrant was liable in accordance with section eleven hundred eighty-b of this chapter for a violation of subdivision (b), (c), (d), (f) or (g) of section eleven hundred eighty of this chapter; or (v) the registrant was
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liable in accordance with section eleven hundred eighty-c of this chapter for a violation of subdivision (b), (c), (d), (f) or (g) of section eleven hundred eighty of this chapter; or (vi) the registrant was liable in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-e of this chapter for a violation of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter; or (vii) the registrant was liable in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-f of this chapter for a violation of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter, the commissioner or his or her agent shall deny the registration or renewal application until the applicant provides proof from the court or administrative tribunal wherein the charges are pending that an appearance or answer has been made or in the case of an administrative tribunal that he or she has complied with the rules and regulations of said tribunal following entry of a final decision. Where an application is denied pursuant to this section, the commissioner may, in his or her discretion, deny a registration or renewal application to any other person for the same vehicle and may deny a registration or renewal application for any other motor vehicle registered in the name of the applicant where the commissioner has determined that such registrant's intent has been to evade the purposes of this subdivision and where the commissioner has reasonable grounds to believe that such registration or renewal will have the effect of defeating the purposes of this subdivision. Such denial shall only remain in effect as long as the summonses remain unanswered, or in the case of an administrative tribunal, the registrant fails to comply with the rules and regulations following entry of a final decision.
§ 1-b. Paragraph a of subdivision 5-a of section 401 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by section 8-b of chapter 222 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
a. If at the time of application for a registration or renewal thereof there is a certification from a court or administrative tribunal of appropriate jurisdiction that the registrant or his or her representative failed to appear on the return date or any subsequent adjourned date or failed to comply with the rules and regulations of an administrative tribunal following entry of a final decision in response to three or more summonses or other process, issued within an eighteen month period, charging that: (i) such motor vehicle was parked, stopped or standing, or that such motor vehicle was operated for hire by the registrant or his or her agent without being licensed as a motor vehicle for hire by the appropriate local authority, in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or of any law, ordinance, rule or regulation made by a local authority; or (ii) the registrant was liable in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-c of this chapter for a violation of a bus lane restriction as defined in such section; or (iii) the registrant was liable in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-d of this chapter for a violation of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter; or (iv) the registrant was liable in accordance with section eleven hundred eighty-b of this chapter for a violation of subdivision (b), (c), (d), (f) or (g) of section eleven hundred eighty of this chapter, or the registrant was liable in accordance with section eleven hundred eighty-c of this chapter for a violation of subdivision (b), (c), (d), (f) or (g) of section eleven hundred eighty of this chapter; or (v) the registrant was liable in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-e of this chapter for a violation of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter; or (vi) the registrant was liable in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-f of this chapter for a violation of subdivision
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(d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter, the commissioner or his or her agent shall deny the registration or renewal application until the applicant provides proof from the court or administrative tribunal wherein the charges are pending that an appearance or answer has been made or in the case of an administrative tribunal that he or she has complied with the rules and regulations of said tribunal following entry of a final decision. Where an application is denied pursuant to this section, the commissioner may, in his or her discretion, deny a registration or renewal application to any other person for the same vehicle and may deny a registration or renewal application for any other motor vehicle registered in the name of the applicant where the commissioner has determined that such registrant's intent has been to evade the purposes of this subdivision and where the commissioner has reasonable grounds to believe that such registration or renewal will have the effect of defeating the purposes of this subdivision. Such denial shall only remain in effect as long as the summonses remain unanswered, or in the case of an administrative tribunal, the registrant fails to comply with the rules and regulations following entry of a final decision.
§ 1-c. Paragraph a of subdivision 5-a of section 401 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by section 8-c of chapter 222 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
a. If at the time of application for a registration or renewal thereof there is a certification from a court or administrative tribunal of appropriate jurisdiction that the registrant or his or her representative failed to appear on the return date or any subsequent adjourned date or failed to comply with the rules and regulations of an administrative tribunal following entry of a final decision in response to three or more summonses or other process, issued within an eighteen month period, charging that: (i) such motor vehicle was parked, stopped or standing, or that such motor vehicle was operated for hire by the registrant or his or her agent without being licensed as a motor vehicle for hire by the appropriate local authority, in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or of any law, ordinance, rule or regulation made by a local authority; or (ii) the registrant was liable in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-d of this chapter for a violation of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter; or (iii) the registrant was liable in accordance with section eleven hundred eighty-b of this chapter for violations of subdivision (b), (c), (d), (f) or (g) of section eleven hundred eighty of this chapter, or the registrant was liable in accordance with section eleven hundred eighty-c of this chapter for violations of subdivision (b), (c), (d), (f) or (g) of section eleven hundred eighty of this chapter; or (iv) the registrant was liable in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-e of this chapter for a violation of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter; or (v) the registrant was liable in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-f of this chapter for a violation of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter, the commissioner or his or her agent shall deny the registration or renewal application until the applicant provides proof from the court or administrative tribunal wherein the charges are pending that an appearance or answer has been made or in the case of an administrative tribunal that he has complied with the rules and regulations of said tribunal following entry of a final decision. Where an application is denied pursuant to this section, the commissioner may, in his or her discretion, deny a registration or renewal application to any other person for the same vehicle and may deny a registration or renewal
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