BILL NUMBER: S10564
SPONSOR: STEWART-COUSINS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law and the public officers law,
in relation to establishing a school speed zone camera demonstration
program in the city of Yonkers; and providing for the repeal of such
provisions upon expiration thereof
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is to authorize the City of Yonkers to imple-
ment a pilot program for a speed violation camera monitoring system in
school speed zones located within the City.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill amends the Vehicle and Traffic Law to authorize
the City of Yonkers to operate a pilot program for a speed violation
camera monitoring system in no more than twenty-five school speed zones
located in the City of Yonkers. The City is authorized to operate the
speed cameras (A) on school days beginning one hour before school hours
and ending one hour after school hours; and (B) any day where a school
is hosting student activities beginning thirty minutes before the school
activity and ending thirty minutes after the school activities. Speed
data, crash history and roadway geometry must all be considered by the
city when determining where to install and operate the devices. This
section also sets the conditions that a speed violation monitoring
system must satisfy each day before it is used and annual calibration
requirements. Finally, section one requires that the City prepare a
yearly report for the legislature and the executive on the pilot program
for the duration of the program.
Section 2 amends the Public Officers law to ensure that any photographs,
microphotographs, videotape, or other recorded images captured by a
speed camera in the City of Yonkers is exempt from any Freedom of Infor-
mation Law requests.
Section 3 states that the City must follow the appropriate public-con-
tract-awarding process outlined in existing General Municipal Law when
purchasing or leasing any equipment for its speed violation camera moni-
toring system pilot program.
Section 4 is the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Driving over the speed limit is a contributing factor in approximately
twenty-nine percent of traffic-related fatalities nationwide. The
dangers of speeding are magnified when they occur in school zones, where
large numbers of students arrive by bus or on foot and are frequently
present outdoors.
Following the first implementation of a school speed zone camera pilot
program in the State, New York City has seen average speed incidences
reduced by seventy-three percent in school zones where speed cameras
were installed, and reductions of incidences up to ninety percent in
certain locations. Speed cameras have also been proven effective in
preventing repeat offenses, as forty-six percent of drivers who received
a ticket did not receive a second violation. This success has demon-
strated how school speed zone camera programs can significantly improve
street safety for students and surrounding communities.
The State Legislature has permitted the expansion of school speed zone
camera pilot programs outside of New York City, including neighboring
Westchester County municipalities White Plains and Mount Vernon. The
City of Yonkers seeks authorization to operate a school speed zone
camera pilot program in its school zones to protect its students and
increase the safety of City streets.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is a new bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the State.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become a law and shall expire December 31, 2031, when upon such date the
provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed. Effective immediately,
the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation neces-
sary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are
authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.

Statutes affected:
S10564: 87 public officers law, 87(2) public officers law