School zone speed cameras have been re-activated in some parts of the City of Buffalo, drawing the attention of the Common Council’s Legislation Committee.
Councilmember David Rivera said cameras should be able to remain on with a flashing beacon beyond school arrival and dismissal hours due to extra-curricular activities, and multi-building campuses.
“Instead of using Monday through Friday, 8 to 4, when the beacons are on you must observe the speed limit and you do away with all these signs you need to make, and the changes you need to make,” said Rivera. “Not only that, if it’s public safety, if I’m having an event at 7 o’clock in the evening, I want to be just as safe as I was that morning.”
Not all of Rivera’s colleagues are in agreement, though. University District Councilmember Rasheed Wyatt expressed concern over the appearance of a money grab by the city, as the cameras have already generated $1.75 million in fines in a few weeks’ time.
“When we put forth the legislation, we are all in support of children safety,” Wyatt said. “But to the extent that we have them [cameras] on the entire day, when children are safe in school is something that I’m not in favor of, that when children are safe in school we’re ticketing people.”
The Legislation Committee voted to table more discussions on school zone camera times to a further date. In addition, Councilmember Mitch Nowakowski has drawn up a resolution to use school zone fine money collected so far for infrastructure improvement.
