Red-light camera cut down in Coram, Suffolk cops say

Suffolk detectives are investigating an incident in which a red-light camera was cut down in Coram Monday night, police said.

Sometime between 6:45 and 8:20 p.m., a camera on the southwest corner of County Road 83 and Old Town Road was damaged when its pole was cut down, police said.

Police had made no arrests as of Tuesday night.

Red-light cameras have sparked protests from Suffolk residents, who believe the cameras are meant to collect money from residents with $80 tickets and endanger public safety.

County officials have said the cameras, deployed at 100 intersections in western Suffolk County, protect public safety.

Suffolk collected an estimated $28 million in revenue from red-light camera tickets, late fees and administrative fees in 2015.

Cameras at CR83 and Old Town Road issued 3,293 tickets through October, 2015, according to data presented to the county legislature.

Countywide through 2013, right-angle accidents at intersections with cameras decreased by 30.1 percent and accidents involving injuries decreased by 10.6 percent, according to data the county released in 2014. Rear-end accidents increased by 9.3 percent.

The county has not yet reported data for 2014 despite a state law requiring annual reports.

The county’s red-light camera vendor is expected to replace the poll and camera “in the next day or so,” Department of Public Works Commissioner Gil Anderson said. The vendor is responsible for the costs, Anderson said.

By David M. Schwartz

dschwar1@newsday.comschwartznewsNY

David Schwartz covers environmental issues. A native Long Islander, he's worked at Newsday since 2013.