NEW YORK CITY: In order to save lives, and help stem the tide of traffic violence, The New York City’s school zone speed cameras will now legally operate around-the-clock.
Previously the cameras would only operate on weekdays, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
However, on Friday, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill to extend and expand the city’s speed camera program until July 2025, allowing the automated enforcement tools to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
“I want to thank all the lawmakers who have worked so hard to make this possible, because New Yorkers don’t just deserve safe streets at certain hours of the day. We need to use every tool at our disposal, and far too many of our children have been killed by cars to not reauthorize and expand this life-saving program,” Hochul said.
The NYC Department of Transportation and Mayor Eric Adams rallied for the program’s expansion before it passed the state assembly last month. “Make no mistake about it, this is a major victory for New Yorkers that will save lives and help stem the tide of traffic violence that has taken too many,” Adams said at the time.
Mayor Eric Adams said the move will save lives.
“Seventy-two percent of the fatalities were taking place when the cameras were not operating. That’s basic math,” Adams said. “It was a hard fought battle, because some people thought the cameras were a way of being punitive, when it was not. It was a way of deterrence. Because once you get that ticket one time, you’re not going to speed again.”
Fines remain at $50 for all speed camera violations.
