Starting Nov. 3, drivers who speed through the new camera-enforced school zones in Syracuse will receive a $50 fine in the mail. It marks the end of a warning period where more than 95,000 notices were issued in just four weeks.
Most of the drivers were caught on some of the city’s busiest thoroughfares: James, South Geddes, S. Salina, and W. Brighton. Chief Operating Officer with the city Connor Muldoon said he isn't surprised by the high numbers.
“That really demonstrated the need for this program," he said. "If we're having 60,000 people within a two-week period speed through a school zone while school's in session, we know that there's a problem and this is the best way to address that problem.”
Muldoon said state law didn’t require the city to have a warning period, but he says they knew there would be a learning curve to change drivers’ behavior. He acknowledged the city is learning, too, and plans a few adjustments based on feedback from common councilors and others.
“We're going to be relocating a few cameras to be closer to the schools, which we think is the best outcome for the safety of students," Muldoon said. "And going forward throughout the year, we'll be continuing to monitor camera data.”
Those new locations will also undergo warning periods in the coming weeks.
The speed zone cameras are one of three ways Syracuse is trying to improve traffic safety around schools. Muldoon said the city is the first to also include the school bus-stop-arm and red-light cameras.
“There are a number of companies that provide these sorts of services throughout the United States," he said. "We know from speaking with our contractor with others, that we are being more responsible than, I believe, any other community in the country in how we are working with our engineering and our law department and our municipal violations bureau to ensure that everything is up to standard.”
The stop-arm cameras have generated more than 2,600 warnings and violations since April. About a third of the 36 red-light cameras are in place, and Muldoon says he expects more violations as they add the rest. Drivers have 40 days to pay their fines or face penalties.
