RedLightScam.com
Exposing the red light camera money machine in New York and across America.
The Red Light Camera Program: Safety or Revenue?
Red light cameras are promoted as a public safety tool. But millions of drivers believe these programs have become an automated revenue system that issues tickets without a police officer present, often making the vehicle owner responsible regardless of who was actually driving.
In New York City, the official rule is clear: the owner of the car is responsible for the ticket, regardless of who was driving, and red light camera tickets do not add points to your driving record.
Owner Liability
The camera captures the plate. The ticket goes to the registered owner. That means the system often punishes the owner, not necessarily the actual driver.
No License Points
Many camera tickets are treated more like civil or parking-style violations than traditional moving violations. In NYC, red light camera tickets do not result in points.
Automated Enforcement
The system uses sensors and cameras to issue notices by mail. No officer has to personally stop the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation.
Revenue Questions
The public deserves to know how much money is collected, who gets paid, what vendors profit, and whether safety improved enough to justify the program.
What We Know About New York
New York allows red light camera programs in certain jurisdictions. New York City has operated a red light camera program for decades, and Nassau County also has a photo enforcement program.
Key New York Issues
- Tickets are mailed to the registered vehicle owner.
- The owner may be responsible even if someone else was driving.
- NYC states that red light camera tickets do not add points to your driving record.
- The violation is triggered after the light turns red and sensors detect a vehicle crossing the stop or crosswalk line.
- Drivers should always review the photos, video, date, time, intersection, plate number, and notice details.
The Big Problem
If the program is truly about safety, then the government should prove it with full transparency. The public should be able to see:
- Crash data before and after cameras were installed.
- Revenue collected by intersection.
- Vendor contracts and profit-sharing arrangements.
- Yellow-light timing information.
- How many tickets were dismissed or challenged successfully.
- Whether intersections were redesigned for safety before cameras were installed.
Our Position
We are not defending reckless driving. Running a red light can be dangerous. But automated enforcement should not become a government cash register. If safety is the goal, then engineering, visibility, better signal timing, warning signs, and accident reduction should matter more than ticket volume.
What About Other States?
Across the United States, red light camera laws vary widely. Some states permit them, some restrict them, and some prohibit them entirely.
- According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, 22 states and Washington, D.C. permit red light camera use.
- GHSA also reports that 9 states have laws prohibiting red light cameras.
- IIHS notes that in most states, camera citations are civil offenses rather than moving violations, meaning no license points or insurance impact in many places.
- Some states and cities have removed cameras after public backlash, legal challenges, or concerns about fairness and revenue.
What Drivers Should Do
- Do not ignore a notice. Missing deadlines can add penalties.
- Review all photos and video carefully.
- Check whether the vehicle, plate, time, and location are correct.
- Look for emergency, stolen vehicle, mechanical failure, or incorrect vehicle defenses if they apply.
- Contact your local elected officials and demand full transparency.
- Ask whether the program is reducing crashes or simply producing revenue.
Sources & Notes
This page is for public education and advocacy, not legal advice. Laws and fines can change. Always verify your own ticket, local ordinance, and state law.
Sources reviewed include NYC Department of Finance red light camera guidance, IIHS red light running and camera law information, GHSA speed and red light camera law summaries, and Nassau County photo enforcement information.
How Suffolk County Got Rid of Red Light Cameras
Suffolk County’s red light camera program officially expired on December 1, 2024. The county now states that no new notices of liability will be issued for violations on or after that date.
The Bottom Line
Suffolk did not end the program because county officials suddenly admitted it was unfair. The program ended because the legal authorization was allowed to expire, and the effort to extend it failed before the New York State Legislature.
The Timeline
2009–2010: The Program Begins
Suffolk County’s red light camera program was authorized under New York State law in 2009 and began operating around 2010. The program was sold to the public as a safety program designed to reduce red-light running and crashes.
2017–2019: Public Pushback Grows
Critics began questioning whether the program was really about safety or revenue. Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta became one of the most vocal opponents, arguing that the reports and data supporting the program were incomplete or misleading.
Trotta pushed for more transparency and even called for voters to decide whether the program should continue.
2022: The $30 Administrative Fee Was Repealed
Suffolk had been adding a $30 administrative fee on top of the $50 red light camera fine. In December 2022, the Suffolk County Legislature voted to repeal that fee.
Legislator Rob Trotta sponsored the bill to repeal the fee. Reports also credit Legislator Anthony Piccirillo as a key opponent of the fee and critic of the program.
2024: The Extension Failed in Albany
Suffolk’s program needed state authorization to continue. In 2024, the effort to extend the program failed before the end of the state legislative session.
State Senator Dean Murray said no one approached the Senate to carry the extension bill, meaning there was no Senate sponsor to move the program forward.
December 1, 2024: The Program Ends
Suffolk County’s Red Light Safety Program expired as of December 1, 2024. The county’s Traffic and Parking Violations Agency states that no new red light camera violation notices will be issued for violations occurring on or after that date.
Key Players
Rob Trotta
Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta was one of the most outspoken critics of the red light camera program. He challenged the program’s safety claims, pushed for public accountability, and sponsored the bill repealing the $30 administrative fee.
Anthony Piccirillo
Legislator Anthony Piccirillo was another important critic of the program and the administrative fee. He warned that Suffolk County could face major financial liability over fees collected from drivers.
Dean Murray
State Senator Dean Murray played a key role in explaining why the program failed to continue: according to reports, no one in the Senate carried the bill to extend Suffolk’s red light camera authorization.
Suffolk County Legislature
The Legislature had previously extended the program, but by 2024 the political support was no longer enough to keep it alive through the required state process.
Why This Matters
Suffolk County’s red light camera program became a symbol of “taxation by citation.” The cameras generated millions of dollars, while residents questioned whether the real goal was public safety or revenue collection.
The end of the program shows that organized public pressure, elected officials willing to challenge the system, and failure to renew state authorization can stop automated ticket programs.
Sources
- Suffolk County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency: confirms the program expired December 1, 2024.
- FOX 5 NY: reported that the extension failed after no bill moved through the State Legislature.
- WSHU: reported that Rob Trotta sponsored the repeal of the $30 administrative fee.
- TBR News Media and Long Island Life & Politics: reported on Rob Trotta, Anthony Piccirillo, and public criticism of the program.