Bill to regulate school speed cameras tabled in Suffolk committee

A bill to regulate planned school-zone speed cameras in Suffolk County failed to get out of a legislative committee Thursday, after Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and some lawmakers raised objections.

Administration officials said they still were in the process of selecting a vendor to operate the cameras and that it was too soon to begin setting rules.

"It's premature," said Tom Vaughn, county director of intergovernmental relations.

"We want to approach this in a much more comprehensive manner."

He said the administration was committed to working with lawmakers on how to roll out the cameras.

The bill to regulate the cameras was introduced Tuesday by Legis. Jay Schneiderman (I-Montauk). It would require "clearly visible" warning signs at school-zone speed camera sites and a two-week grace period after cameras go on line, when drivers would be mailed warnings instead of tickets.

Flashing lights would have to be activated when cameras are operating outside normal school hours, and the county would have to launch a public information campaign.

Schneiderman, who did not attend the Public Safety Committee meeting, disagreed that the bill was premature but said he didn't oppose tabling it.

"Now is the time to send a very clear message that this isn't going to be a 'gotcha' program," Schneiderman said. "I don't understand the nervousness of talking about this, other than it's heading into an election year."

Minority Leader John M. Kennedy Jr. (R-Nesconset), an opponent of speed cameras, offered a procedural motion that would have essentially killed the bill. Schneiderman's measure is in part a reaction to Nassau County's experience with the speed cameras, he said.

The Nassau program began this summer. Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano had to dismiss $2.4 million in tickets in August after residents complained about malfunctioning cameras and poor notification at camera sites.Some residents have called for the program to be ended altogether.

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The nonpartisan Budget Review Office said the Suffolk bill couldn't be introduced until next year, because it changed the county's operating budget. The county is projecting raising $2.5 million annually from the tickets. The legislature's legal counsel, George Nolan, disagreed, and said the bill changed policy and could be passed immediately.

Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory (D-Amityville) said he supported the bill, but he acknowledged that it might be too late in the year for it to pass. But he said he wants the legislature to play an active role in establishing the program.

By David M. Schwartz

dschwar1@newsday.comschwartznewsNY

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