Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Automated Traffic Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council adopts ordinance to allow automated traffic enforcement after divided debate
Summary
After extended debate about staffing, privacy and long-term impacts, the council voted to adopt an ordinance authorizing automated speed-enforcement cameras; the measure passed by roll call vote (9–2) and includes funding for a supervisory sergeant for a half-year in the next budget cycle.
The Bergen City Council voted to adopt a resolution authorizing automated traffic enforcement devices to address speeding and pedestrian safety concerns.
Councilor Yvette Cortez, who presented the Public Safety Committee recommendation, said the committee "talked about adding the automated traffic enforcement safety devices in the city" and noted the plan calls for a supervisory-level sergeant whose six-month salary would be included in the upcoming fiscal-year budget.
Supporters framed the policy as a safety tool for locations that cannot be staffed by officers around the clock. City Manager Bridal Daniels told the council the ordinance language follows state statute, limits retention of personally identifiable information, and requires vendors to destroy identifiers within 30 days "after the fine is collected or some other resolution occurs." "We are looking at this as a we don't have the manpower to be everywhere at once," Daniels said, adding that officials expect a city study and state approvals before any camera goes live.
Opponents raised concerns about privatization, long-term revenue dependencies and data security. One councilor said there were "a lot of data that we don't know yet from other municipalities" and called for more evidence about long-term revenue and privacy risks. Concerns included whether private vendors' profitability could be tied to citation volume and the potential for traffic diversion into residential side streets.
Council members also pressed officials on timing and staffing. The city manager and supporters said the program likely would take about a year to implement and that the proposed supervisory post would be added to the police budget with only half a year's salary included in the next fiscal year to reflect training and rollout time.
The ordinance passed on a roll call vote. The clerk announced the result as "Passes 9 2." The council noted that specific camera locations and a three-year plan will be developed, submitted to the state for approval and returned to the council for final sign-off before devices are activated.
Next steps: staff will proceed with the study, RFP and state-plan process described in committee; final implementation timing depends on state approvals and vendor selection.
