Traffic Cameras Generating Three-Quarters Of NYC Ticket Revenue
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Cameras over New York City roadways now account for 75 percent of ticket revenue, up from 38 percent 15 years ago.
The city's Independent Budget Office says cameras generated $41 million in fines in the last fiscal year, compared to $14 million from tickets written by real-life cops, WCBS 880's Paul Murnane reported.
Cameras are catching red light, bus lane and now speeding violations. Revenue from speed cameras is expected to jump from $2 million to $8 million in the 2014 fiscal year after state lawmakers approved the installation of 120 cameras in school zones, part of Mayor Bill de Blasio's Vision Zero initiative aimed at curbing pedestrian deaths.
At Broadway and West 96th Street, some people told Murnane that the technology is not improving safety.
"I think the politicians realize that the automobile is a definite way to make money," one man said.
However, a cab driver admitted, "I almost went through the light, but I had to stop because of that (a camera)."
Read the Independent Budget Office's report on traffic camera revenue.
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