Long Island’s school zone camera program has had its fair share of controversy but now, as CBS News New York reports, Nassau County residents are taking to the streets in protest.
A New York speeding camera, similar to the ones causing controversy in Nassau County. (Photo Source: SILive.com)
While government officials argue that these speed cameras are all about child and pedestrian safety, the citizen-organized group “Residents Opposing School Zone Speed Cameras” contends that the $80 tickets are nothing more than a revenue-generating scheme for the cash-strapped County.
According to a report by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, more pedestrians and cyclists were injured in New York City last year than in the previous five years. The stats reveal that total traffic injuries increased by about 2% from 2012 to 2013, with pedestrians and cyclists bearing the brunt of it. Pedestrian injuries were up 5% and cyclist injuries rose an alarming 8%!
Sadly, children accounted for many of the injuries as NYC drivers injured 4,278 children aged 13 and under—8 of whom were killed. In fact, motor vehicle crashes have consistently been the leading cause of death due to injury for children within the 5 boroughs.
According to County Executive Edward Mangano, there were problems with the cameras installed at six school locations due to malfunctions in the equipment and timing mechanisms. Consequently, Mangano said he is declaring amnesty on all of those fines.
Mangano announced the amnesty via Twitter, tweeting, “I am declaring amnesty for all speed camera tickets issued this summer.”
However, now that school is officially in session, enforcement has resumed.
Mangano revealed to 1010 WINS, “Clearly, there were some errors in the speed zone violations, so we’re meeting with the vendor and our traffic safety department to make certain that those errors are corrected… so as a matter of fairness, we’re eliminating all those tickets.”
He continued, “Many of the residents believed there was not enough notice, so this will serve as a notice of the new state law that there will be speed cameras in school zones come this September with the opening of school.”
Similarly, anyone who already paid the fine for their school zone camera ticket will be issued a full refund from the Traffic and Parking Violations Bureau.
In total, Nassau issued 30,108 citations at the five schools.
This is another prime example of how camera tickets are not very reliable and further proof that there is no substitute for an officer actually issuing a traffic ticket.
Remember, whenever you are approaching a school—whether you think it is in session or not—you ought to slow down and look for police officers patrolling nearby.
If you recently received a New York speeding ticket, contact Rosenblum Law today at 888-434-0406.
CBS 2’s Carolyn Gusoff reported that the brand new speed-camera program is generating a tremendous amount of negative feedback from drivers saying they had no idea that school zone speed limits were still in force during the summer.
One driver noted that he always slows down in school zones when school is in session. However, unbeknownst to him, he was mailed four tickets from a speed camera for school-zone speeding!
He thought school was not in session. After all, it’s August. Plainedge Middle School appeared deserted and he was driving 36 mph in a 40 mph zone.
However—since summer school was in session—the zone was really 25 mph.
According to the driver, “[S]ummer school is not posted or advertised anywhere as to be in session … It’s not on any of the school calendars.”
Another motorist got slapped with 11 tickets costing $80 each in the same week.
Ever since Nassau County began its most recent school zone ticket blitz, similar stories have been cropping up.
A school zone speed limit sign. These speed limits are only enforced during days in which school is in session, but un-publicized summer school is causing Nassau drivers to receive school zone speeding tickets in August. (Photo Source: Wikipedia)Fifty-six school zones could have speed cameras up and running in Nassau by the first week of September and speed cameras are coming to Suffolk County early next year.
New York State allows speed cameras to ticket drivers going more than 10 mph over the school speed limit on school days during school hours in addition to an hour before and after school as well as during school activities.
Nevertheless, many drivers near Plainedge Middle School are claiming that this type of summertime ticketing stretches the definition of “school day” simply to make money.
According to the Plainedge’s schools superintendent, 100 students were attending summer school. However, he promises that summer school days will be added to the district calendars.
If you recently received a New York speeding ticket, contact Rosenblum Law today at 888-434-0406.
Update: As of August 22, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano has declared amnesty on all school zone speeding tickets issued during the summer. Click here for details.
Recently, an Idaho state trooper issued a speeding ticket to a grandmother on the way to Yellowstone National Park with her very young grandchildren (a four-year old and seven-year-old).
Apparently, the grandmother was traveling 91 MPH in a 75 MPH zone when Mike Nielson, a State Trooper, pulled her over. He noticed that the young children seemed nervous and that the grandmother was shocked as well.
Officer Nielson assured the children that their grandmother was not in serious trouble and gave them “junior troopers” stickers.
The grandmother revealed that the police officer who issued her the speeding ticket was so courteous and sensitive that she decided to write a thank-you note to the state police.
She explained, “We were on vacation and he could have really dampened our mood but he was just great.”
When her grandchildren asked if she was mad at the trooper for getting the ticket, she used that as an opportunity to explain to them the importance of taking responsibility for their actions.
Unfortunately, in New York, the police officers are not always this kind or professional and routine traffic stops are not always so pleasant.
Many times, we receive phone calls from people who were yelled at by New York police officers, had their PBA cards taken away, and even one or two who had their driver’s license thrown back at them.
This is not to say that this is the norm or that most New York police officers act like this. However, it happens more than it should. If it happens to you, remember to remain calm and composed.
Although difficult, never argue with a police officer who pulls you over for speeding in New York. Doing this will likely infuriate him and could even lead to an additional traffic citation––whether it is warranted or not.
Nevertheless, do not apologize to the officer either. Any apology could be considered an admission of wrongdoing which the officer and prosecutor can use that against you in court.
Your best course of action is to be as cordial as possible and let the officer do the talking. If you do end up with a New York speeding ticket, be sure to plead Not Guilty and call an experienced attorney to help you fight the case.
If you received a speeding ticket in NY, contact Rosenblum Law today at 888-434-0406.
Brand new legislation went into effect this past Wednesday aimed at increasing student safety near schools.
Assemblyman Dave McDonough announced that the law was signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo to establish speed monitoring systems in school zones on Long Island.
According to Mr. McDonough, the new law will allow Nassau and Suffolk counties to start four-year speed camera pilot programs within 120 approved school zones.
A Nassau County police vehicle. If you speed in Nassau school zones, you can expect to find one of these with pulling you over. (Photo Source: Wikipedia)
The Assemblyman explained, “I have been a long-time advocate of public safety and this legislation marks a substantial victory in the fight to prevent speeding and other dangerous traffic violations in the vicinity of our local schools.”
In addition to the speed cameras, we expect this emphasis on school zone safety to increase police enforcement in school zones. If the pilot program is successful, it is likely that similar programs will pop up throughout New York State.
If you happen to pass a school on your way to work or during your daily commute, be sure to slow down and obey the traffic rules. Remember, speed limits are drastically reduced near schools, often with little warning. If you are approaching a school zone, pay attention to traffic signs or you may soon find a camera ticket in your mailbox.
Getting caught for speeding in a school zone translates into significant fines, points, insurance hikes, and penalties.
If you recently received a school zone speeding ticket in NY, contact Rosenblum Law today at 888-434-0406.
A question that most drivers want an answer to is: Are traffic cameras always accurate?
One Manhattan judge certainly does not think so!
State Supreme Court Justice Geoffrey Wright recently received a NY traffic ticket for driving in a bus lane. However, he is convinced that the camera was not accurate.
Although the fine is only $115, Justice Wright is fighting this one on principle.
Traffic cameras are supposed to provide photographic, incontrovertible evidence of traffic infractions—but that may not be the case. (Photo Source: Wikipedia)
According to Justice Wright, he was driving a 2005 Mazda MZ6 that was registered to his 94-year-old mother when he was caught by a traffic camera on 23rd Street.
He claims to have photos from the ground to prove he was just to the left of the designated lane. These photos show two bus lanes on First Avenue with manhole covers visible in those spaces.
Wright contends that his car was to the left of those manholes, so he could not have been in a bus lane.
Interestingly, the city’s camera images that are attached as exhibits to the lawsuit are too blurry to make out exactly where the Mazda was in relation to the lanes—casting further doubt on the reliability of some NY traffic cameras.
However, in spite of this, Mayor de Blasio wants the New York Legislature to allow for the installation of even more traffic cameras.
It is lawsuits like this that really call into question the veracity of red light cameras and traffic cameras generally.
It seems that the picture and video quality on traffic cameras is usually good enough to detect that a specific car was in violation of a vehicle and traffic law. However, determining the driver of that vehicle is much harder.
Similarly, in order for red light cameras to be accurate, the speed at which they take photos and videos needs to be within milliseconds.
Ultimately, although courts throughout the country have universally accepted the accuracy of traffic cameras, there still seems to be enough wiggle-room to take Justice Wright’s lead and stand up against them.
The federal transportation safety investigators revealed that a Wal-Mart truck driver was speeding immediately prior to careening into a limousine, killing a man and seriously injuring Tracy Morgan, the famous comedian.
This incident highlights the difficult balance between allowing truckers to work long hours and how doing so impacts the safety and health of the trucker as well as other motorists.
The driver had been on the job for approximately 13 1/2 hours at the time of the crash. The law on the books only allows a truck driver to work a maximum of 14 hours in a day and only 11 hours behind the wheel.
Had the driver reached his intended destination, he would have been slightly over the 14-hour limit (presuming he would have been going the speed limit).
Currently, the Senate is considering passing a resolution that would expand the maximum work period for truck drivers to 80 hours per week.
However, as a result of this tragic incident, the Teamsters Union pushed Congress not to ease the laws limiting truck drivers from working 60-70 hours per week.
The President of the Teamsters, James P. Hoffa, noted, “The NTSB’s preliminary findings in this case clearly show that truck drivers are pushing beyond the limits of the current hours of service rules.”
Apparently, the driver had not slept in 24 hours before the crash.
No one can tell whether the Senate resolution will pass, let alone become law. However, one thing is for sure: as this nationwide debate rages on, it is crucial for you to remember the importance of driving safely and the frightening ramifications of failing to do so.
Remember, a truck driver is a CDL (commercial driver’s license) holder and the penalties are dire for speeding when you have a CDL. Do not let fatigue or very long hours lead to a speeding ticket or a suspended license.
As CBS News reports, New York City’s new car-mounted speeding cameras are popping up in neighborhoods across the city, issuing speeding summonses to drivers as they pass.
The speed cameras, mounted to the roofs of unmarked NYPD vehicles, appear as simple flashbulbs—but don’t be fooled. They are actually highly calibrated technology with each radar going through its own 26-point checklist prior to deployment.
Aimed at passing traffic, the radar is programmed to snap a picture of any vehicle going 11 or more miles above the posted speed limit. The photo is then uploaded to the NYPD database and the owner of the vehicle is sent a $50 summons in the mail.
A $50 summons is actually much better for the driver than if they had been pulled over by an NYPD officer. A standard speeding ticket can mean up to a $600 fine plus points on your license that can lead to a DMV assessment and even a driver’s license suspension.
While many New Yorkers see these cameras as a quick and easy revenue generator for the city, Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg argues otherwise. “We are really not trying to engage in ‘gotcha,’ and we’re really not trying to do this as a revenue-raising exercise,” Trottenberg stated. “And one thing that I say is if the drivers of New York slow down, obey the speed limit, and stop running red lights—and the city collects no revenue—I’ll consider it a victory.”
Driver safety has been a platform of Mayor DeBlasio’s administration since he’s taken office. His Vision Zero plan to eliminate traffic deaths by the year 2024 has meant a slew of recent ticket blitzes. Increased speed enforcement in school zones and work zones has also been a focus.
To date, the city’s six speed camera cars have issued nearly 70,000 tickets.
Did you happen to receive a speeding ticket in New York between April 17 and April 24? Well, if so, you’re not alone. In fact, your ticket(s) is among 24,354 others that were issued during New York’s so-called “Speed Week.”
This is 2,156 more tickets than last year’s “Speed Week,” and there’s every reason to think that police are aiming to increase these numbers every year. A similar operation, dubbed “Operation Hang Up,” yielded 3,472 tickets for cell phone-related driving infractions, such as talking on a cell phone while driving and texting while driving.
And for New York City in particular, the ticket blitzes continue. This month saw at least 3: two targeting speeding and one targeting “distracted drivers,” the nickname for people who talk or text while driving. The increasing frequency of so-called ticket blitzes is part of Mayor De Blasio’s “Vision Zero” plan to eliminate traffic deaths in the City by 2024.
In addition to the blitzes, the NYPD have numerous other weapons in their Vision Zero arsenal. For instance, they have purchased 200 more radar guns and installed about 120 more cameras in school speed zones. More recently, they have announced plans to install more cameras in work/construction zones throughout the city, particularly targeting motorists for reckless driving, a misdemeanor crime in New York, meaning it carries potential jail time.
Speeding and distracted driving tickets can come with serious consequences in terms of not only fines and points on your driving record but also auto insurance premium rate increases. These insurance rate increases can be long-term, lasting three years or even more.
We at the Rosenblum Law Firm have successfully fought thousands of traffic tickets throughout the past ten years. We’re here to fight for you. For more information on how we can handle your case, call our office at 1-888-815-3649.
Mangano revealed to 
Apparently, the grandmother was traveling 91 MPH in a 75 MPH zone when Mike Nielson, a State Trooper, pulled her over. He noticed that the young children seemed nervous and that the grandmother was shocked as well.
