Red-light cameras have caused heated debates throughout the country, but New York has taken enforcement once step further. According to NYC Finance, if you don’t pay your red-light camera violation you could either get your vehicle towed by the city, you could suffer severe late fees and fines or you may not be able to renew your registration with the DMV.
Red-light cameras have been up and running in New York since 1993. It was during that year that the State Legislature approved 50 cameras to be installed at a number of intersections throughout the city. The program was expanded to the use of more than 100 cameras to reduce the number of car accidents in New York.
Our New York car accident attorneys understand these cameras have been under debate for quite some time now. Opposing parties would argue that they do nothing more than generate revenue for the city and some would argue that this is an unreliable invasion of privacy. In defense of the cameras, officials have said that the cameras are intended to save lives and that they photograph license plates only and not passengers.
A number of these cameras have been turned in for not working properly and even contributing to accidents, according to Tech Dirt. At many of these intersections, the number of rear-end collisions have increased while t-bone accidents have decreased. Some cities have even been accused of lowering the yellow-light time in an attempt to catch even more red-light runners.
“I’ve never . . . seen any studies that suggest red light cameras would be a good safety intervention to reduce right-turning accidents,” said Mark Burkey, a researcher at North Carolina A&T State University who has studied photo enforcement collision patterns.
If you’re busted running through a red light at one of our New York intersections that is already equipped with these cameras, you will receive a “Notice Of Liability” which is basically a fine for $50. The $50 fine that comes along with this notice of liability proves to be a reliable source of revenue for the city, which has collected more than $73 million in fines from drivers from 1993 to 2008, according to Senate Democrats.
If you run one of these red lights, you should expect the Notice of Liability about 30 days after the violation. You will then have 30 days from the NOL date to respond.
All payments must be made to the NYC Department of Finance. They are also the ones who are held responsible for holding hearings for drivers who wish to dispute the Notices of Liability they receive.
“Technology can absolutely help make roads safer, and red-light cameras and speed cameras, on properly engineered roadways, can play a proper role in that,” said Mr. McNaull, a former police officer.
Whether they’ve been installed to generate some income for the city or to save drivers from suffer an intersection car accident, there’s no getting around them as the eye in the sky is here to stay.
The New York City Driving Homepage offers a map of all the red-light camera locations throughout the city.
If you or a loved one has been seriously or fatally injured in a New York City car accident, contact personal injury lawyer Nicholas Rose for consultation about your rights. To make a free and confidential appointment call 1-877-313-ROSE (7673).
More Blog Entries:
NSC Focuses on Teen Drivers to Prevent Car Accidents in New York City and Elsewhere, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, June 25, 2011
New York Drivers Rank in Bottom 5 — Do You Know How to Handle An Accident?, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, June 20, 2011
SUVs Increase Safety for Drivers in New York Car Accidents, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, June 15, 2011
