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City staff preparing local law for red‑light cameras; council debates locations and signage
Summary
Peekskill staff said they are preparing a local law to implement a red‑light camera program following recent state legislation; council members recommended additional intersections for analysis, discussed whether to post warning signs at city entrances, and asked staff to examine police administrative costs and camera siting.
Corporation Counsel Eric briefed the council on the next steps to implement a red‑light camera program after the state adopted enabling home‑rule legislation. He said the city must adopt a local law to set procedural rules, then contract with a vendor to install and monitor cameras.
Eric said updated crash data and careful intersection selection are part of the next steps. "We can have up to 12 red light cameras in the city," he told the council, and staff are working with the police department to confirm accident histories and the exact intersections to include.
Council members suggested adding specific intersections to the analysis (for example, South and Division and Brown, and Washington at Hudson) and debated whether to post warning signs at city entrances. Several members said signage could improve compliance and reduce the perception that the program primarily seeks revenue. Eric said the drafting team would consider whether the local law should require warning signs and that police review and ticket‑administration costs (a technician who reviews evidence) are implementation issues that may impose an unreimbursed expense on the city.
Members also asked about the school district and whether school‑bus enforcement (arm cameras) could be adopted; Eric said that would likely require additional, separate legislation and a separate local law.
Next steps: staff will collect updated crash data, work with the police department on intersection selection and prepare a proposed local law and public hearing schedule for the council’s consideration.
