As de Blasio speeds through NYC, Cuomo proposes school zone cameras

In what’s almost certainly a Complete And Utter Coincidence, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is bringing attention to just one single element of the 30-day amendments to his executive budget proposal: the authorization to allow road cameras in Nassau and Suffolk counties. The release comes the day after Mayor Bill de Blasio was the subject of a classic Marcia Kramer takedown in which the CBS newswoman clocked mayor’s entourage speeding and failing to follow stop signs.

An administration official insisted, for real, this is a coincidence and something long-sought by local leaders.

Continuing what’s becoming a monthus horribilis for the new mayor, de Blasio took a bad situation and made it worse this morning by refusing to answers reporters’ questions outside his home as he tried to go to the gym.

Here’s the release from Cuomo’s office:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that a 30-day budget amendment has been introduced to include authorization for addition of cameras to monitor school speed zones in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Supporting one zone in each school district on Long Island, the program will enhance the safety of children, pedestrians and drivers in school areas by encouraging drivers to travel with caution through these areas and support law enforcement efforts to catch violations and prevent accidents caused by speeding.

“Speeding through school zones puts children at risk, and this amendment is one way we can better protect our students and crack down on irresponsible drivers,” Governor Cuomo said. “This amendment will allow Nassau and Suffolk Counties to more effectively monitor speeding at school zones throughout their regions, which will aid local law enforcement efforts and encourage drivers to slow down when traveling around a school. This is a proposal that will make our schools and communities safer on Long Island, and I urge the legislature to pass it this year.”

Violations of established speed limits are often a significant factor in accidents which result in death or injury to motorists and pedestrians. The potential for speed-related accidents that involve children is a particularly dangerous risk in school zones.

Under the present provisions of law in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, a police officer must be physically present to observe a speeding violation and serve the operator of the vehicle with a summons.

This budget amendment is designed so that Nassau and Suffolk Counties may establish a pilot program with speed cameras one zones per school district and is based on similar legislation enacted last year that authorizes New York City to establish a pilot program for speed cameras in school zones. The cameras will be able to record speeding violations as they occur, without requiring a police officer to be present at the scene. The programs will operate much like the existing red light camera programs in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, New York City and other major cities, which have successfully reduced the incidence of red light violations, ultimately preventing accidents and injuries and saving lives.

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano said, “I commend Governor Cuomo for his commitment to protecting the safety and welfare of our children. My administration has worked tirelessly with law enforcement to protect our most precious asset and the Governor’s proposal will assist us in furthering that goal.”

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said, “There is no excuse for speeding through a school zone during school hours and speed cameras have a proven impact of slowing down drivers. This proposal will help give us the tools to improve safety around our schools when students are present, and I commend Governor Cuomo for including this item in his budget.”

With the implementation of photographic and other recording technology, speed cameras can capture evidence of vehicles that exceed established speed limits to later be used in legal action against the driver. This technology is currently used in multiple states around the country, including Utah, California, and Arizona.

  1. Council 82 says:

    Sounds like a great revenue maker by Big Brother Inc.

  2. woo says:

    Another costly irritating solution from klown kuomo, here’s a better idea with no further cost to the already overtaxed residents of these counties — get the 6 figure police officers in these counties off their asses and patrol these areas.
    Big Brother wants EZ revenue and traffic cameras give them that while the taxpayer and citizen continually pay for it, these slobs aways find more ways to get more out of your pocket with very little effort or cost to them!
    I’m not ready for the massive peep show the “authorities” want, are you?

  3. jackiebass says:

    If this is done like in other places it will be a big gift to the company that gets the contract to lease the cameras. They get a big percentage of the fine money. They usually have a guaranteed amount of revenue so if enough fines aren’t collected the taxpayer has to pony up. It’s all about money and not public safety. Big Brother is increasingly watching your every move. We are living very close to Orwell’s 1984.

  4. XDOH says:

    The “do as I say, not as I do” type is the worst. Politicians and big shots who are “above” the law.

  5. SocialJustice says:

    I demand justice. Why are silver spoon children on Long Island worthy of better protection than our kids upstate. We need these license plate and facial recognition cameras in front of all schools, period. They also need to check the license plates against the States new Database that AC ordered. That way any sex offenders can be caught red handed in front of the schools. I want cameras everywhere to be fair.

  6. Would be helpful to see figures on injury or deaths occurred in school zones under current system. To often politician go off half cocked to make an intuitive judgement that has no basis in fact.

  7. ITWorker says:

    So, only Long Island children are worthy of extra special safety? Or does someone with connections to state government own a camera monitoring business on Long Island? I fail to see any real value in cameras, they can only catch people after the fact at best, where as traffic calming paint or rubberized bumps seem to actually slow people down.

    Another instance of Cuomo shooting from the hip with no idea how to actually accomplish a stated end result. (Again, I question whether his goal is actually to increase safety for children …)

  8. JustASec says:

    Cuomo slaps de Blasio across the face again. This is getting to be regular. Just shows how conservative Cuomo really is. What do you call the opposite of a RINO? DINO?

  9. Neil Levine says:


  10. BigPop says:

    Might as well just put cameras everywhere! We could make it like the book “1984″ by George Orwell. Just keep finding excuses for their use & that’s where we are headed.

  11. Responsible Liberal says:

    Glad the big ticket items are on your agenda, guv. Speeding in school zones? Pretty sad attempt to change the channel.

  12. BigMamam says says:

    How about one of those cameras following around Joseph Percoco from the Governors office. Proof of how JCope and how all the the appointees do nothing could be video tapped with these cameras.

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