RESOLUTION NO. - 2026
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING NEW YORK STATE
AMEND THE VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF RED LIGHT CAMERAS PERMITTED WITHIN THE CITY OF YONKERS
BY:
WHEREAS, in 2009, the New York State Legislature amended Vehicle and Traffic Law, the General Municipal Law, and the Public Officers Law to authorize the City of Yonkers to implement a program imposing owner liability for failure of an operator to comply with traffic control indications and to install and operate traffic-control signal photo-monitoring devices at intersections within the City of Yonkers which are set to expire on December 1, 2029; and
WHEREAS, since 2009, the City of Yonkers has had a traffic signal enforcement system at 25 intersections, resulting in over one-hundred thousand violations per year, emphasizing the need to increase the maximum authorized number of intersections from 25 to a total of up to, but not at any time exceeding, 50 to help continue to deter violations at every high-risk intersection; and
WHEREAS, authorizing a maximum total of up to 50 red-light camera intersections balances safety, traffic volume, and population density considerations, addresses inequities and prioritizes injury and fatality prevention; and
WHEREAS, red light cameras are proven to increase driver compliance at monitored intersections and also at nearby intersections without cameras, encouraging consistent and law-abiding driving behavior citywide; and
WHEREAS, while red light cameras generate fines, data demonstrates that the safety improvements and reductions in serious traffic collisions far outweigh any revenue collected, emphasizing that public safety is the primary goal; and
WHEREAS, intersections monitored by red light cameras have experienced measurable reductions in T-bone and serious injury crashes, demonstrating that expanding the program is likely to prevent injuries and save lives; and
WHEREAS, preventing collisions reduces emergency response costs, property damage, and medical expenses, ensuring that the program benefits both the City and its residents beyond enforcing traffic laws; and
WHEREAS, expanding red-light camera coverage aligns with City and State traffic safety initiatives aimed at reducing traffic fatalities and serious injuries, supporting a comprehensive approach to traffic safety for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists; and
WHEREAS, other Cities already have more cameras than Yonkers. For example, Syracuse has fewer residents spread over a larger land area, yet New York State has already authorized 11 more intersections in Syracuse than in Yonkers, despite the fact that Yonkers is the state’s third-largest city; and
WHEREAS, strategic expansion ensures that high-risk intersections are monitored equitably across all neighborhoods, avoiding disproportionate enforcement in any single area while prioritizing public safety.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Yonkers hereby requests that the New York State Legislature amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law, the General Municipal Law, and the Public Officers Law to authorize the City of Yonkers to increase the maximum authorized number of traffic control indications and installing and operating traffic-control signal photo-monitoring devices from 25 intersections to a total of up to, but not at any time exceeding, 50 intersections within the City of Yonkers; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the City Council requests the City Clerk to forward a copy of this Home Rule Request Message to the City’s state legislative delegation; and be it further
RESOLVED, that this resolution shall take effect immediately.