Tuckahoe Village Departments

TUCKAHOE TALK
With Mayor John Fitzpatrick

TRAFFIC BIG BROTHER

May 17, 2009

What if Tuckahoe had red-light cameras? By that I mean the kind that take a picture of any vehicle’s plate triggered by running a red light. We have only four major intersections but all of us have seen a vehicle run one of these lights. By the standards of many municipalities our major intersections may appear minor, but the volume of traffic for our village is well documented and overbearing. Statistics from New York City show red light violations have decreased by 40 to 60 percent since cameras were installed. Also, while reducing broadside accidents by 25%, it however increases rear end collisions by 15%. Don’t get me wrong, this wouldn’t speed up anything but it would definitely make the intersection safer from those who can’t wait for a light to change.

No other place in the State, besides New York City, had been allowed to install these cameras until now. The primary reason this measure hadn’t been expanded was Assembly Transportation Committee Chairman Gantt (D) – Rochester blocked it over his alleged concerns with invasion of privacy. Interestingly, with his recent “yes” vote, his principled stance appears to have disappeared and many places (including his own area) will now be afforded the opportunity to install red-light cameras.

The municipalities that are now entitled to put up red light cameras are as follows: Yonkers gets 25, Nassau and Suffolk County, Buffalo and Rochester each get 50. New York City also added 50 to its current 100. The interesting word, in my opinion is “entitled”. The New York State legislature under the New York constitution is required to approve things of this nature under the Home Rule Law. A village or town has to request the legislature to pass a specific bill related to the property, affairs or government of such local government, which does not apply to all other towns and villages. However, without their approval, you don’t get it. I must assume they are smarter than the local municipalities or more able to look at the bigger picture than we are.

The government of NY State will only allow a municipality to have these cameras if it is for public safety. Revenue benefit is not considered an acceptable reason for red light cameras. The right to have matters be purely revenue related is apparently only designated for the State legislature and the governor. A great example was the proposed “Obesity Tax” of Non-Diet soda. Sure, that was going to save children from childhood obesity! Perhaps a gubernatorial epiphany might have been the realization that those who use even a diet soda to wash down two big Mac’s are beyond help. In the name of protection of life and limb, why didn’t he propose a Fast Food Tax? However, in all fairness, I assume even he could see that ensuing riot’s probability.

Certainly these cameras promote revenue but let’s face it, it only generates revenue from people who violate a pedestrian and vehicle safety law. If Tuckahoe had one camera and only one car runs a red light every day it would raise $18,250. That figure is calculated with the State mandated $50 maximum fine. In spite of any revenue, since it has already been proven that red light cameras reduce the number of red light infractions, doesn’t that make it automatically in the interest of public safety?

As one would imagine, the New York Civil Liberties Union also had concerns about invasion of privacy with the use of these devices. Personally, I am always mindful of an invasion into one’s privacy. I would definitely suit up for a fight such as the Patriot Act tapping our phones, but cars running red lights isn’t protected behavior in my opinion. I don’t abide an attitude that a law is not broken if no one sees. If you want to tell me it is not “villagey” - that I can get my hands around. In fact, that is why I am writing at all about it. Is it too impersonal for Tuckahoe or Mayberry or any little village? I’ll bet if I suggested a camera to catch and fine those who don’t clean up after their dog, people would cheer.

On the camera subject I am contemplating passing a future resolution to place one in our village. Although this doesn’t require a public hearing I would still like to hear your thoughts. As I pointed out earlier, any resolution would still have to be sent to our representatives for introduction and approval by the whole legislature and governor. Even though our two legislators Amy Paulin (D) Assembly and Jeff Klein (D) Senate, have records that support meaningful change and (even more rare in Albany) are common sense oriented, I am still pretty sure Albany won’t act. I believe red light cameras shouldn’t fall under Home Rule. If one municipality is constitutionally entitled, then all should be. This particular matter doesn’t belong being approved by the State on a case-by-case basis.

Since I, like all of you, suffer from the flaw of being human, I must point out I am not pontificating from a pious position. There is a red light camera on the west side of NYC, right where you get on the highway northbound (57th and West) and for the record, I have never even seen a pedestrian at this intersection. Well, one day I received a photo in the mail of my vehicle in the middle of the intersection with the light red. Did I think it was yellow? Was I spacing out? I cannot truly say, but when it came in the mail I paid it.