BIG APPLE PAIN: NYC Will Quadruple Traffic Camera Locations This Year

New York City officials unveiled plans Wednesday to dramatically scale up the use of red light cameras, aiming to curb dangerous driving by vastly expanding automated enforcement across city streets.

At present, red light cameras operate at 150 intersections citywide. Transportation officials said that number will increase fourfold by year’s end, with cameras added at roughly 50 intersections each week over the next five weeks. The full rollout is expected to reach 600 intersections within about 10 months.

The program itself is not new. New York began using red light cameras in the 1990s, making it one of the earliest cities in the nation to adopt automated ticketing for drivers who run red lights. However, state law capped the system for years at 222 cameras spread across 150 intersections, a ceiling that has remained unchanged since 2009, according to the Department of Transportation.

That cap was lifted in 2024, after state lawmakers approved legislation—pushed in part by then-Mayor Eric Adams—authorizing camera placement at up to 600 intersections. Despite the change in law, no new cameras were installed last year. Transportation officials said that period was used to secure contracts and complete the technical groundwork needed to expand the system.

With that preparation complete, Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn said the city is now ready to move forward aggressively.

“Red light running is one of the most dangerous behaviors on our city’s streets and puts all New Yorkers at risk. That is why we are taking immediate action to ramp up the city’s red light camera program,” Flynn wrote in a statement. “These cameras have reduced red light running 73% in the intersections where they are installed, and we will pair this heightened enforcement with ambitious street redesigns to make our streets safer.”

Transportation Department spokesperson Vin Barone said the agency will not publicly identify the locations of the new cameras, arguing that the initiative works best when drivers are unsure where enforcement is in place. He added that installation decisions will focus on intersections with a history of frequent crashes.

Motorists caught by the cameras running a red light receive a $50 ticket. City figures show the program generated $20 million in net revenue in 2024.

DOT statistics indicate significant safety improvements at camera-equipped intersections, including a 65% drop in T-bone collisions and a 49% reduction in rear-end crashes. City officials say the expanded network is intended to rein in the most dangerous driving behavior and make streets safer for everyone.

{Matzav.com}