Bills to increase red-light cameras stall
A red-light camera monitors the North Service Road of the LIE at Ronkonkoma Avenue in Ronkonkoma. (Oct. 28, 2010) Credit: James Carbone
ALBANY -- Bills to double the number of intersections with red-light cameras in Nassau and Suffolk counties are all but dead, key legislators said Wednesday.
Though he's not throwing in the towel, Assemb. Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove) said the measures aren't on track to be approved as lawmakers approach the end of the 2011 regular session.
"We're running out of time and it's looking less and less likely," said Lavine, sponsor of the bill for Nassau County.
The legislative session was slated to end Monday, but lawmakers will extend it to at least Thursday as they continue to work on major issues such as gay marriage, a property-tax cap, power plant siting and State University of New York tuition. In the remaining time, rank-and-file legislators are trying to push through hundreds of local bills.
Earlier this year, Nassau and Suffolk sought state approval to double the number of intersections with red-light cameras from 50 to 100. Supporters say red-light cameras, automatic devices that snap photos of vehicles that run red lights, promote safety by deterring violators. The cameras also generate millions of dollars in cash for the counties.
The state Republican-controlled Senate passed a bill for each county. But the measure gained little traction in the Democrat-led Assembly.
"There seems to be a resistance in general to going along with red-light programs," Lavine said.
"There has been broad support for red-light cameras in the past," said Assemb. Robert Sweeney (D-Lindenhurst), sponsor of the bill for Suffolk County. "It's just one of those issues that hasn't risen to the top this year given everything else that's going on."
New York City officials also struggled unsuccessfully to increase the number of red-light cameras from 150 to 250, Sweeney noted, adding: "It's a situation where you either do it for everybody or do it for nobody."
