Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- Red Light cameras are supposed to save lives, or at the very least cut down on crashes. So why doesn’t Syracuse have any?
Since 2009, Syracuse has had the okay to install up to 50 cameras that catch drivers as they run red lights. At that time, NewsChannel 9 was told the cameras could be in place by the end of the year. Fast forward two years and little progress has been made.
The city says it needs more data before making a final decision. So next week, the police department will install trial cameras at five intersections. The accident prone intersection of Salina and Fayette streets may be one of the first to get the trial cameras.
Other intersections slated to get the cameras include: Almond and Adams; Fayette and Geddes; Geddes and Genesee; Solar and Hiawatha; and West Genesee and West Fayette.
In Rochester, red light cameras are making a difference. Last October, dozens of cameras were installed, catching drivers as they run red lights.
Since January, Syracuse has been reviewing proposals from companies who would eventually manage our cameras if approved. In August, a committee approved a trial run, during which temporary cameras will track violations without actually issuing tickets. Next week the trial period begins.
Once the cameras are in place, they will track how many people run red lights in one week. The city will review that data during a meeting next month.
However, there’s no real rush to get the cameras up and running. And there's no guarantee they will ever gain approval. A spokesperson for the city says it's cautious after learning some cities are backing away from red light technology. Director of Administration Bill Ryan says Houston is finding it hard to collect on tickets.
Red light tickets are $50 in New York. But Syracuse has always said safety is the main reason for considering red light technology. Syracuse’s Common Council will have the final say.
