Photo Courtesy of William Alatriste/NY City Council
Councilman Bob Holden.
By Michael V. Cusenza
The City Council on Thursday voted in favor of a package of legislation focused on transportation-related concerns.
Highlights include:
Int. 1724-A, sponsored by Councilman Ben Kallos (D-Manhattan), will authorize the creation of a program for installing and operating cameras on school bus stop arms that are capable of photographing drivers that illegally pass a school bus.
“Every child must be safe as they get on and off the school bus. It could be anyone’s child at risk from drivers speeding by and worse yet drivers who have actually driven up on sidewalks,” Kallos said. “We are all in a rush to get where we are going, but there is no excuse to put our children at risk. Stop-arm cameras will catch dangerous drivers and automatically issue tickets to keep our children safe.”
Int. 9-A, sponsored by Councilwoman Inez Barron (D-Brooklyn), will require that by Sept. 30, 2022, the Department of Transportation identifies each intersection immediately adjacent to a school that does not have a traffic control device, such as a stop sign or traffic control signal. No later than Sept. 30, 2024, DOT would have to install a traffic control device at each such intersection. The type of traffic control device installed would be in accordance with the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and based upon DOT’s engineering expertise and judgment.
Traffic control devices, such as stop signs, stop lights and markings help educate and improve driver behavior in school zones. Of the approximately 6,800 intersections adjacent to City schools, about half are signalized. Ensuring that all such intersections have a traffic control device would increase the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists, particularly school children, near schools.
This local law would take effect immediately.
Int. No. 2417-A, sponsored by Councilman Bob Holden (D-Middle Village), will prohibit the sale or distribution of any materials or substances for the purpose of concealing or obscuring the numbers on license plates or distorting a recorded or photographic image of a license plate. The penalty for violations would be at least $300 for the first violation and at least $500 for any subsequent violation and would be recoverable in a proceeding before the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings.
“Lawless behavior on our roads has become more brazen than ever,” Holden said. “I have frequently seen these devices on vehicles throughout the city, often driving recklessly while defeating red light and speed cameras. These products have no purpose but to be installed to intentionally violate the law by obscuring a vehicle’s license plate so that the scofflaw driver can commit crimes, ranging anywhere from reckless driving to much more serious ones, with impunity. Those who sell these products know their only use and must be deterred from trading in them or face a penalty. This bill will give law enforcement the means to make our streets a little safer.”
It is illegal in New York State to obscure a motor vehicle’s license plate so that such plate is unreadable by toll, red light and speed cameras. However, stores continue to sell such products. People use these products so that toll, red light and speed cameras cannot read their license plates, thereby enabling the driver to avoid tolls and penalties. State law sets forth a maximum penalty of $200. However, such amount is likely insufficient to deter stores from selling such products.
This local law would take effect 90 days after it becomes law.
