24/7 NYC Speed Cameras Get Council Green Light

NEW YORK CITY — New York City's speed cameras moved a step closer to stopping their nightly snoozes.

City Council members voted 43-7 on Thursday to approve a measure to make cameras in school zones run 24/7 year-round.

The measure has been long-sought by traffic safety advocates, who have decried the current state-mandated set up in which those cameras only operate from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and not on weekends.

“Speeding doesn’t sleep and our speed safety cameras shouldn’t either,” said Danny Harris, executive director of Transportation Alternatives, in a statement after the vote. “As traffic violence increases across our city, we need to deploy every possible tool to keep people safe."

The Council vote dovetailed with state bills shepherded by state Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Deborah Glick to renew the speed camera program for three more years and expand its hours to round-the-clock.

Gounardes said the Council members' vote will effectively put the state bill on a fast track.

"Now the Legislature can take up S5602 and pass it next week, sending this crucial measure to the Governor’s desk," he tweeted.

State lawmakers have until June 2 — which is when the legislative session ends — to pass the measure.