New enforcement hours for Buffalo's School Speed Zone Program are official now, ending a nearly yearlong dispute between the Brown administration and city lawmakers.
The program uses cameras to capture speeding drivers in 20 school speed zones near public, private and charter schools in the city. Corresponding flashing beacons warn approaching drivers when the posted 15 mph limit is in effect.
The Common Council approved a compromise by a 7-2 vote Tuesday, avoiding a vote on whether to overturn Mayor Byron W. Brown's veto of the Council's amendment to limit the hours of enforcement.
The compromise, which Brown has already signed, calls for the cameras and beacons to be activated one hour before the start time of each school to one hour after the start time; and again one hour before dismissal at each school, to one hour after dismissal. The deal recognizes that schools don't all begin or end at the same time.
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For any activities outside of those hours – such as sporting events, outdoor walks or recess and activities that involve students going off campus – individual school leaders will have to request camera activation from their respective Council member.
Additional signage and relocation of beacons will be implemented to warn drivers they are approaching a speed zone.
South Council Member Chris Scanlon and North Council Member Joseph Golombek Jr. voted no, saying they were uncomfortable with individual Council members signing off on the requests.
The cameras were activated in January in 14 school zones during a monthlong grace period in which speeding motorists were issued warnings.
The city installed the flashing beacons that went live March 11, but the speed zone program was suspended days later when Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo ordered all school buildings in the state closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
After hearing from many residents during a public hearing later in March, who felt the all-day enforcement was a money grab by the city, the Council voted 6-3 to amend the hours of enforcement to 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
The mayor vetoed the amendment in October.
Meanwhile, five of the school speed zone cameras went into effect at six private, charter or parochial schools that reopened in September.
Drivers captured on camera traveling at least 26 mph while the beacons are flashing receive a $50 citation mailed to the car's registered owner. From that, the city receives $36, and $14 goes to the camera company.
New enforcement hours for Buffalo's School Speed Zone Program are official now, ending a nearly yearlong dispute between the Brown administration and city lawmakers.
