FERRETTI SLAMS NASSAU ADMINISTRATION FOR RED-LIGHT CAMERA WARNING SIGN FAILURE
County Executive Snubs New Traffic Sign Law,
Motorists Face Unfair Tickets as a Result
Nassau County Legislator John R. Ferretti stood at the intersection of Cotton Lane and Wantagh Avenue with other local officials to discuss the County Administration’s failure to erect red-light camera warning signage, exposing motorists to unfair traffic tickets. The law, enacted on December 20, 2018, required Nassau’s Administration to install signage that directs drivers on specific traffic restrictions. For example, the signs indicate the specific location where motorists must stop prior to making a legal right-turn-on-red in order to avoid a red-light camera traffic ticket. The signs were mandated by law to be installed by March 1, 2019. As of yet, many “red light intersections” do not have the required signage. Ferretti called out County Executive Laura Curran and her Administration for not following the law that her administration signed.
“The overwhelming number of motorists want to follow traffic laws, and these signs will help them do exactly that,” explained Ferretti. “Failing to place signage that warns travelers of the presence of a red-light camera and the exact location where they must stop prior to making a legal right-hand turn, exposes drivers to unfair traffic tickets.”
Ferretti pointed out there are many circumstances under which motorists can unknowingly fall victim to red-light camera tickets. When roads are snow covered, the stop line on the pavement is not clearly visible, creating confusion on the precise stop location that must be observed in order to avoid a ticket. Additionally, the legislator pointed that the County Administration has failed to maintain road markings and, as a result, the stop lines on area streets have actually worn off at many intersections.
“Despite the legally mandated deadline for installation, many intersections in Nassau County still do not have the required red-light camera signage, thereby exposing motorists to unfair tickets,” announced the legislator. “At the same time, snow covered stop line markings on the pavement and markings that have worn off roads due to improper maintenance make the precise location at which motorists must stop to avoid a ticket unclear. It is time for Nassau County Executive Laura Curran to step up, maintain Nassau’s roadway signage and comply with my legislation, which her Chief Deputy County Executive signed into law on her behalf. It is just not right that people are receiving red-light tickets due to her negligence.”
Nassau’s red-light camera program has been in place since 2009. Immediately upon taking office in 2018, Ferretti heard from residents of his district about the problems with the traffic control program. As a result, the legislator promptly drafted legislation on the matter, getting it passed by the Legislature and signed into law during his first year in office. Unfortunately, Nassau’s Administration has not been as quick to implement the provisions of the initiative, failing to meet the March 1, 2019 stipulated deadline for the installation of the red-light camera signage.
As a result of the County Executive’s failure to place proper red-light signage as specified under the law, Ferretti is encouraging those who receive unfair tickets to tickets to contact the County Executive and ask for her to take action on their behalf.
“Drivers who receive unfair red-light tickets should have some recourse,” said Ferretti. “I am encouraging motorists who fall victim to the Nassau Administration’s negligence to contact the County Executive’s Office and demand that the Administration address the unwarranted tickets.”
“The red-light camera program was meant to make the roads safer,” Legislator Ferretti concluded. “Ticketing people for stopping slightly over a stop line, especially when the stop line has worn off or is snow covered, just isn’t fair. I am fighting the Administration to ‘do the right thing’ for drivers in Nassau County.”