Suffolk's first red-light traffic camera goes online

The watchful eye of a red-light camera is now in place in Suffolk, and drivers can expect dozens more of the revenue generators to appear in the coming months.

The county's first red-light traffic camera went online this week at the intersection of Ocean Avenue and the Long Island Expressway south service road in Ronkonkoma, according to county officials.

Suffolk's Red Light Safety Program will eventually include as many as 50 cameras. Owners of vehicles who have their license plates "snapped" by the cameras have a monthlong grace period before the county begins mailing tickets. After July 15, drivers can expect a $50 ticket for jumping the red. There will be no DMV points assigned or insurance implications.

The cameras will be installed over county-state road intersections. They can capture images of vehicles running red lights as well as failing to make a complete stop before making a right turn on red.

The cameras are synced to traffic signals and road triggers, and take 8-second videos and still photographs that capture the rear of vehicles in an intersection, officials said.The project was approved by the legislature last year, and county officials initially said the first cameras would be operating by January or February.

Public Works Commissioner Gilbert Anderson later said it could take until Memorial Day to get the first 10 cameras installed and July 1 before all cameras were fully in place. In April, budget aides to County Executive Steve Levy said the delays would mean a $2-million loss of revenue. Officials have projected the cost of installing the cameras at $3 million.Nassau's red light camera program is already functional, with 69 cameras installed as of April. The county expects to have 140 cameras in place by next year. Nassau officials said earlier this year they expect to bring in $18 million for the 2010 budget and $27 million next year.