Nassau residents who aren’t fans of automated school zone speed cameras—and the expensive tickets they often generate for the unwary—are getting a slight reprieve from their ever-watchful eye.
Nassau County’s new roadside speed cameras, which were introduced this past August, issue an automatic $80 traffic ticket (plus additional fees if you pay by credit card) to any vehicle exceeding the posted speed limit within a 10 mile-per-hour buffer zone during school hours. Despite being touted as a means to keep schoolchildren safe, the cameras initially attracted the ire of residents when they unexpectedly began issuing numerous summonses to drivers before summer recess had even ended. The county was forced to refund more than $2 million in ticket monies as a result.
In addition, some residents expressed anger over what they called a botched rollout of the camera system—including a lack of proper warning signage—which resulted in many motorists unexpectedly finding their mailboxes full of expensive fines.
Citing several reasons, including public unrest, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano announced at a Dec. 3 press conference that the county would be scaling back the hours that their speed cameras would be in effect when school is in session.
“With respect to the cameras, we’ve made a decision to adjust the hours, effective Monday, Dec. 8,” he said. “The newly revised schedule that the cameras will be in operation will be from 7 to 9 a.m. and from 2 to 4 p.m.; these hours are more directly related to the times kids are going in and out of school.”
Going forward, summons will only be issued during the two-hour morning and two-hour afternoon time periods specified by Mangano. Previously, the cameras generated summons throughout the day from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., without any gaps in coverage.
Although automated school zone speed cameras will only be generating tickets during these hours, Mangano noted that school zone speed laws as mandated by New York State will remain in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and urged residents to continue to observe the posted speed limits in order to keep the roads safe. Mangano said that ongoing police patrols would continue to be a significant enforcement factor as well.
“Of the tickets issued by the cameras to date, over 40 percent of them exceeded the school limit by over 15 miles per hour,” he said. “That’s an alarming statistic, and something that the Nassau County Police Department takes very seriously. However, we have noticed that motorists have greatly changed their driving habits in the school zones and observing the speed limits, which is a great thing for safety.”
Mangano said that future revision to speed zone camera times is possible; also, adjustment to the camera times of individual school districts is available if requested of the county by the school’s administration.
While stating that resident outcry alone wasn’t the reason for the change, Mangano did acknowledge the frustrations of the public in regards to the speed cameras…and the hefty fines they have been doling out.
“There’s considerable concern from the public, and we want them to understand that school safety is the priority issue here,” he said. “We have seen a dramatic increase in driver compliance to the school speed laws, and we are very happy with that result. I’ve always prided myself in listening to our residents, and I have made this decision in part because of their concerns, but we have to be mindful of the safety of our students and our crossing guards. I don’t think you can argue that anyone should be able to speed through a school zone at double the posted limit…it creates a danger, and the statistics are alarming.”
“The message here is let’s keep our kids safe,” Mangano added. “Let’s exercise some common sense and caution during school hours when kids are crossing the street.”
