It’s been seven months since cameras began catching drivers speeding through Syracuse school zones or passing stopped school buses. More drivers are now following the law, but those who don’t may face stiffer penalties in the future.
Since enforcement began in early November, Craig Witmer with the city’s Analytics and Innovation office told common councilors that violations dropped city-wide by more than half to 575 in April. He said the number of city drivers receiving tickets fell by 7% in that period.
“The top line hopeful interpretation of this is that city residents are changing their behavior over time, kind of adjusting to the program," Witmer said.
Still, 55% of violators are city drivers, while the rest are from the suburbs. So far, Witmer said the city has collected about $3.8 million in revenue but there are $2 million in outstanding tickets, making the pay rate 35%.
Leah Witmer with the Municipal Violations Bureau said they’d like to increase compliance by booting for speed zone and other camera enforced violations.
“So the proposal would be one outstanding school bus ticket, which is a $250 ticket or any combination of three automated enforcement or parking tickets," she said. "This proposal is something we've discussed since we rolled out the project.”
The proposed change to city ordinance needs council approval. The idea doesn’t sit well with councilor-at-large Rasheada Caldwell. She said it’s too early in the program, and the extra enforcement would disproportionately impact the city’s most vulnerable families.
“We have to back up. We're going so fast into this situation before we figure out, does this work? What's missing? Who's doing this?" Caldwell said. "And I just think it takes a year to two before you realize what works before we start saying, 'oh, we're going to boot.'”
Caldwell said scofflaws still need to pay up. Witmer said it’ll take a month or two to compile more data and develop a fair collections process before they present a plan to council.
