Nassau County should repay red light tickets

In Nassau County, no refunds for you

The courts have deemed it illegal for Nassau County to have charged an additional $100 per red light ticket — $50 for a ”driver responsibility fee” and an additional $50 for “public safety” [“No plans in Nassau to refund fees,” News, Aug. 5]. The county’s legal team says that the county should not have to repay them because the drivers paid “voluntarily.”

Voluntarily? Who are they kidding?

How dare the county keep money collected illegally. Responsible people paid what was demanded by the county. They may have feared repercussions, late fees, or worse. Do we voluntarily pay permit fees to have work done on our own homes? No! But we obey the rules.

The courts should demand that Nassau County repay the illegal, bogus fees it created.

Finally, we the people should be compensated with interest — like a late fee that the county charges — if the county does not comply by a certain date.

If we must follow the law by paying demanded fees, so should Nassau County.

— Bob Krauss, Plainview

Those who think that Nassau County’s Republican-majority legislature, with its Tammany Hall-style governance, is going to reimburse drivers for illegal red light ticket fees are fooling themselves.

I’d say shame on our county legislators, but then again, I don’t think any of them would feel an ounce of it.

— Tom Sena, Merrick

So, I started to write a check for $100 to the Blakeman for Governor campaign, but then I realized he already has my money.

I donated it when I received a red light camera ticket and “voluntarily” gave it to the county, according to Nassau County Supreme Court Justice Thomas Rademaker.

While I will still vote for Blakeman, I will not donate to his campaign until the county refunds the illegal “fee” it collected.

— Joe Kennedy, Syosset