BILL NUMBER: S9176
SPONSOR: MARTINS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend chapter 19 of the laws of 2009, amending the vehicle and
traffic law and other laws relating to adjudications and owner liability
for a violation of traffic-control signal indications, in relation to
extending the provisions of such chapter
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To reduce motor vehicle crash fatalities, injuries, and property damage
caused by motorists' failure to obey traffic signals by extending the
expiration date of the program to December 1, 2029.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
The bill authorizes the County of Nassau to continue a Local taw estab-
lishing a 5 year demonstration program to impose monetary liability on
the owners of motor vehicles for an operator's failure to comply with
traffic-control indications within the County. The current taw author-
izes the County of Nassau to install and operate traffic-control signal
photo violation-monitoring devices at no more than one hundred inter-
sections within such County at any one time.
The current taw provides for the form of the evidence of liability and
its availability for inspection in adjudicatory proceedings, require-
ments for the information to be contained in notices of liability
("NOLs") and the method for delivery to owners alleged to be liable.
Requirements relating to the adjudication process are also provided.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Installing Red Light Cameras at intersections with a high traffic acci-
dent rate in the County has served to prevent accidents and save lives.
The installation of Red Light Cameras has acted as a deterrent for driv-
ers from running red lights due to costs incurred when the driver is
caught on camera. Placement of cameras in the County has resulted in
safer streets. Red Light Cameras have a strong track record of reducing
traffic accidents by as much as 80% at intersections where they are
installed creating a safer environment for all according to studies done
across the nation. The goat of the red-light camera program is to change
driver behavior thereby creating safer streets.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This bill extends a program which was first authorized in 2009.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to state.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become a law and shall expire December 1, 2029.