Drivers—get ready to slow down. Nassau County is currently in the process of installing school zone speed cameras in an effort to enhance safety by encouraging drivers to travel with caution, as well as support law enforcement efforts to crack down on violators and prevent accidents caused by speeding.
Nassau County officials say Sewanhaka High School will receive a camera on Covert Avenue, which spans the eastern stretch of the property. Tulip Avenue runs in front of the high school and was also considered. Cameras could begin operation in September.
Chris Mistron, director of Nassau County Traffic Safety, said school officials, along with numerous community boards, requested that the camera sit on Covert Avenue.
“I went over there and it did show to be a viable site in terms of the speed zone,” said Mistron. “Covert [Avenue] surprised me by the speed.”
The Herricks School District may see a camera snapping photos near the Denton Avenue School. Herricks High School is also under consideration, but further testing will continue at Denton Avenue.
The New Hyde Park Road School of the New Hyde Park-Garden City Park School District will most likely receive a camera. Calling them “working locations,” Mistron said talks are still ongoing with local area schools.
These areas are under consideration because a majority of drivers were clocked speeding over the posted limit, not just the school zone limit, according to Mistron.
“I have [those schools] listed as two we’re looking at right now,” said Mistron. “It’s [going to be] where we can see the most improvement by placing a camera. If we can’t [put the camera] where it makes sense, then people are not going to accept it.”
Last week, County Executive Ed Mangano declared amnesty for all speed camera tickets issued this summer.
The source of residents anger with the county’s speed cameras stems from lack of warning and the cameras issuing speed violations even when school wasn’t in session.
Mangano addressed these concerns last week with a statement on his Twitter page that read: “I am declaring amnesty for the summer school tickets because too many tickets were issued in error and residents seemed unaware of the camera activation.”
Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation authorizing the addition of speed cameras in school speed zones in Nassau and Suffolk counties on June 25. The law allows one speed camera per district to record speeding violations as they occur, without requiring a police officer to be present at the scene. The law enables speed cameras to be placed in up to 56 school speed zones in Nassau County.
The county is installing cameras and radar, but the device will not show drivers how fast they are going.
The camera will operate Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets will be $80, similar to red light cameras, and violators will not receive points on their licenses.
Mistron says there is no estimate as to what revenue will be generated by the cameras.
“What we’re trying to do is improve the safety around the school on a school day. We’re not trying to catch people on off hours,” Mistron said. “We just want to try and slow down the traffic.”
—Rich Forestano contributed to this story
