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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release #06-51
Thursday September 14, 2006
Contact: Kay Sarlin (212) 442-7033
Chris Gilbride

City To Add 50 New Cameras To Red Light Camera Program

New York City Transportation Commissioner Iris Weinshall today announced the City will double the number of cameras in DOT’s Red Light Camera Program from 50 to 100. The announcement came a day after Governor George E. Pataki signed a bill, S.5357-A/ A.8038-B, permitting DOT to install and operate 50 additional cameras.

“Red light cameras make our intersections safer and for years now we’ve advocated for the expansion of their use on New York City streets,” said Commissioner Weinshall. “I would like to thank Governor Pataki for signing this important piece of legislation and Senator Padavan and Assembly Member Lafayette for championing a bill that will help keep the millions of New Yorkers who use our streets safe.”

In 1988, the State Legislature enacted legislation that allowed cities with populations of one million or more to install traffic-control photo violation-monitoring devices to record vehicles going through red light signals at intersections. Since that date, the State Legislature has extended the duration of the program five times: in 1991, 1993, 1995, 1999 and in 2004.

DOT currently operates red light cameras at 75 locations around the City, 50 of which are used to monitor intersections on any given day. Over the next several months, DOT will add cameras at 75 additional locations and begin monitoring 100 locations daily.

The Red Light Camera Program has played an integral role in the City's efforts to enhance public safety. The extended use of these devices has been shown to dramatically reduce the number of violations (40%-60%) at intersections being monitored and data shows that for the 44 cameras installed after January 1, 2001, there has been a 24% reduction in all injuries at monitored intersections.

Since its inception in December 1993, DOT has spent roughly $85 million on the Red Light Camera Program and collected $130 million from violations.

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