New York started deploying automated speeding radars in highway work zones all across the state this year.
We here in the city call these devices speed cameras, but it’s all the same thing: you go 10 mph over the speed limit, you get a ticket sent to you in the mail and have to pay up.
The first offense will cost you $50. The fine is $75 for the second infraction and $100 for the third and every other infraction in an 18-month period from the first fine.
Well, the numbers are in.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the other day that from the time the program was launched on April 17th through Nov. 22, the cameras have issued a total of 133,640 tickets.
Of those, 95,861 tickets were issued in roadway work zones controlled by the state Department of Transportation. Another 37,779 were issued on the New York Thruway.
That sounds like a lot of tickets, but here’s some context: on the Thruway, the Advance reported, less than 2% of the roughly 2.3 million vehicles that passed an automated work zone camera were issued tickets. Roughly 4% of all tickets were issued to repeat offenders.
In work zones controlled by the state DOT, less than 2% of the roughly 4.9 million vehicles that passed a camera received tickets. In these work zones roughly 9% of all tickets were issued to repeat offenders.
Less than 2% of drivers got tickets? That’s a pretty good ratio considering that many New Yorkers could be oblivious to the fact that this new highway camera program is even in operation.
So much for the roadway “carnage” and “car violence” that the anti-auto crowd constantly shrieks about. Could it be that the vast majority of us don’t need this deterrent?
Let’s face it: you almost have to go out of your way to get one of these work-zone tickets. The work zones are clearly marked on the roadway and drivers usually get plenty of warning that there’s a work zone ahead.
That’s unlike New York City’s speed cameras, which can sometimes be hard to spot if your phone doesn’t alert you to them, especially those cameras that are skillfully hidden behind utility poles.
So slow down in the work zone. Easy.
But some drivers will insist on driving at a reckless speed through work zones, just like they drive too fast on local roads.
There are some drivers who will never, ever slow down. They like going at a dangerous speed. They’re too impatient. Need proof? Just look at the percentage of work zone tickets issued to repeat offenders.
Now, you can argue what an “unsafe” speed is. That’s a valid gripe with the city speed camera program. Driving 40 mph on Hylan Boulevard south of Richmond Avenue wasn’t dangerous but they lowered the speed limit anyway in order to catch more speeders with speed cameras.
The work-zone cameras are operating under a five-year pilot program. C’mon. You know the program is here to stay. Money is coming in. Bet the house on the program continuing in perpetuity.
And there are 30 mobile camera units roaming around out there. You know that there will be more units someday, and likely not just in work zones but in other “trouble spots” on state highways.
The money is just too easy.
N.Y.’s new automated speeding radars prove that the vast majority of us actually drive safely (opinion)
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09.12.2023
New York started deploying automated speeding radars in highway work zones all across the state this year.
We here in the city call these devices speed cameras, but it’s all the same thing: you go 10 mph over the speed limit, you get a ticket sent to you in the mail and have to pay up.
The first offense will cost you $50. The fine is $75 for the second infraction and $100 for the third and every other infraction in an 18-month period from the first fine.
Well, the numbers are in.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the other day that from the time the program was launched on April 17th through Nov. 22, the cameras have issued a total of 133,640 tickets.
Of those, 95,861 tickets were issued in roadway work zones controlled by the state Department of Transportation. Another........
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