Syracuse leaders outline automated school-zone, red-light and bus-stop enforcement; city to keep majority of revenue

At a Syracuse City Council meeting, city officials and vendor representatives detailed how an automated traffic enforcement program that includes bus-stop-arm cameras, school-zone speed cameras and red-light cameras will operate, how evidence will be reviewed, and how revenue and maintenance responsibilities are shared.

City Chief Operating Officer Connor said the council approved a revocable permission agreement on Monday that allows a third party to place equipment in the public right-of-way and that the city and the contractor will share revenue from violations. “On the speed and red light program, it’s 35% to Genoptic, 65% to the city, and on the bus stop arm 45% to Genoptic and 55% to the city,” Jeff Nielsen of Genoptic said.

The program will begin with a 60-day warning period during which the city will mail warnings rather than assessing fines. “The state enabling legislation does not require a warning period,” Connor said; the city doubled the typical 30-day industry practice to 60 days to give residents more time to adapt. After the warning period, violations that pass multiple human and quality checks will be forwarded to the Syracuse Police Department (SPD) for final review; if SPD approves, Genoptic will print and mail the notice.

Leah Whitmer, director of the Municipal Violations Bureau, said recipients have 40 days to pay or contest a mailed notice and can request a hearing online or in person. “Once they get the ticket in the mail, they have 40 days to pay or contest,” Whitmer said.

Staff and Genoptic described a multi-step evidence-review process: an initial human review for legible…