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City attorney proposes higher graduated fines, explores red-light cameras and targeted bar-hour rules
Summary
City counsel proposed raising nuisance fines (e.g., from $1,000 to $2,500) and graduated penalties for corporate offenders, and outlined steps to pursue red-light camera authority from the state; staff also outlined options to address bar-related quality-of-life issues including targeted hour restrictions for new licensees.
The city attorney presented proposed amendments to the city code to increase graduated fines for building maintenance, nuisance violations and snow/ice-removal failures and to establish higher fine tiers for corporate entities. He cited a proposed increase from $1,000 to $2,500 for certain nuisance violations as an example of the scale of changes being considered.
"We're recommending, a substantial increase under this from 1,000 to $2,500 per nuisance violation," the attorney said. He also described drafting a local law and resolution to ask the state legislature to authorize local red-light camera programs and noted New Rochelle and White Plains as precedents; councilmembers asked staff to identify candidate intersections and to evaluate whether fines from cameras would flow to the city. Staff also reported meeting with the State Liquor Authority and the police to identify management practices for bar-related quality-of-life issues and recommended options including a weekend 'quality-of-life' patrol, higher fines for repeat infractions, and exploring zoning or hour restrictions for new license applications.
