STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Starting Monday, the 2,000-plus speed cameras installed across New York City will start ticketing motorists 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
The city’s school zone speed camera program has come a long way since it was first enacted in 2013 and implemented in 2014, when only 20 mobile camera units were ticketing strictly during weekday school hours.
As 24/7 speed camera operation nears, the Advance/SILive.com took a look back at the history of New York City’s speed camera program and how we got here.
June 2013 – State legislature passes pilot bill
In June 2013, state lawmakers passed a bill authorizing New York City to establish a five-year pilot program allowing for the operation of 20 mobile speed camera units in school zones in an effort to reduce speeding and bolster traffic safety.
The cameras, which issue $50 tickets to motorists exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 miles per hour, were only allowed to be placed within a quarter-mile of a school along an abutted street and could only operate during school activities.
“Decreasing the number of drivers who speed is a proven lifesaving measure,” said former mayor Michael Bloomberg, who had staunchly advocated for the pilot program.
August 2013 – Bill signed by governor
In August 2013, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo officially signed the school zone speed camera pilot program bill into law.
“Speeding in school zones puts our children at risk, and preventing this reckless behavior should be a priority,” Cuomo said. “This law will allow New York City to undertake a pilot program to see if using speed cameras in school zones is an effective way of preventing accidents and protecting both pedestrians and drivers.”
“These cameras will supplement efforts by law enforcement to root out speeding violations in these protected areas, and encourage drivers to use caution when driving through school zones. Overall, this will contribute to a safer school environment for our students,” he added.
January 2014 – First speed camera ticket issued
In January 2014, New York City issued its first $50 school zone speed camera ticket.
The cameras had been operating since September 2013, but the city had been issuing warnings, as opposed to tickets, for the first few months while New Yorkers adjusted to the new program.
April 2014 – Legislature approves expansion to 140 zones
In April 2014, state lawmakers passed legislation allowing the city to significantly increase the number of school zones housing speed cameras, from 20 to 140.
All other aspects of the program remained unchanged.
“We have an obligation to protect our children’s safety,” former Mayor Bill de Blasio said at the time. “And these additional speed cameras will play a key role in our efforts to reduce pedestrian deaths in school slow zones by changing driver behavior to make us all safer.”
June 2014 – Cuomo signs expansion to 140 zones
In June 2014, Cuomo officially signed the legislation allowing for the program’s expansion.
“New York State will not tolerate drivers who exercise reckless behavior and put other people at risk — especially around our schools,” Cuomo said. “This should send a message to all drivers — slow down and obey the speed limit, especially when passing by a school.”
Sept 2015 – Cameras installed in all 140 zones
In September 2015, former Department of Transportation Commissioner (DOT) Polly Trottenberg announced that the city had finished installing speed cameras in all 140 school zones permitted under law.
“Our message is, to all drivers in New York, at all times and all places, you should be driving at a safe speed,” Trottenberg said. “Speeding is the leading cause of fatal crashes.”
June 2018 – State fails to extend program
In June 2018, with the program set to expire the following month, lawmakers in Albany failed to pass an extension of the city’s school zone speed camera program by the end of the legislative session.
Read More: NYC speed cameras to operate 24/7 starting Monday: Here’s how we got here