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Politics & Government

Red Light Cameras Debut in Port Jeff Station

Many residents voice skepticism of the camera's stated purpose to reduce accidents, seeing it as a money maker for the county.

Red light cameras made their debut in Suffolk County only six months ago, but have already found their way into Port Jefferson Station. The first and currently lone operational red light camera in Port Jefferson is at the intersection of Old Town Road and Route 347.

According to the Red Light Safety Program Frequently Asked Question page, the camera uses a sensor to recognize vehicles that run the red light, snapping a picture of the rear license plate as the vehicle passes. However, unlike red light cameras of the past, these cameras will also record an eight second video clip of the infraction.

The owner of the vehicle will receive a ticket in the mail within a few months of the violation, including a picture of the offending vehicle's license plate. Since the driver cannot be identified in this photograph, the penalty is a fine of $50 with no points assessed to the driver's license.

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Lawmakers argue that these cameras benefit the overall safety of the community, however, local residents have their doubts.

“I think it's just a way for them to make money,” said Charles, a resident of Port Jefferson.

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Mary, a mother of three from Mount Sinai echoes this sentiment.

“It's a good way to create revenue since you don't need a police officer to enforce it,” she said.

County legislators have said the cameras will create around $6 million  in revenue for Suffolk County each year.

In Staten Island, city council members James Oddo and Vincent Ignizio have recently challenged the use of red light cameras there, citing entrapment and safety concerns.

Port Jefferson is already one of the safest New York towns to drive in. According to www.city-data.com, Port Jefferson has averaged nearly 90 percent fewer fatal accidents over the last 25 years compared with the New York State average of towns of its size.

Still, these first cameras are being installed at a major intersection where traffic travels at a high speed in either direction. For this reason, James of East Setauket sees the cameras as a positive.

“It seems like a pretty dangerous intersection," he said. "Maybe this will force people to slow down.”

Some think the solution is far easier and less costly.

“They should just extend the yellow light and delay the green in the opposite direction,"says Paul of Port Jefferson Station. "It would make us all safer and not take money out of our pockets."

Currently, the states of Arkansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin have put various bans on the use of red light cameras after public outcry and lack of concrete evidence that the cameras actually make streets safer.

There are currently no plans to add more cameras in Port Jefferson, though there are plans for more red light cameras along Route 347 in nearby towns.

Correction: The story originally stated that the red light camera takes a picture of the front license plate. The camera actually takes a picture of the rear license plate.

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