Town Moves Forward With Red Light Camera Study

Babylon Town officials have signed off on the county's request to conduct a traffic study to expand its red light camera program.

Vanessa Baird-Streeter, spokeswoman for Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, said the county sent a letter to the Town of Babylon in early January in hopes of expanding its Red Light Safety Program. 

"We have a red light camera program and we are looking to expand that program to ensure safe traversal on their roadways," she said. 

In 2009, Suffolk created the Red Light Safety Program that allowed officials to install and monitor 50 intersections. 

New York State expanded its pilot program, which will allow the county to install cameras at an additional 50 high-traffic intersections. Under the expansion, the county will also be looking to place red light cameras at town-owned traffic signals, according to Baird-Street, not just county roads. 

In order to do so, Suffolk needs an inter-municipal agreement with the Town of Babylon. Supervisor Rich Schaffer signed off on the proposed contract, according to spokesman Kevin Bonner. 

The Suffolk County Department of Public works said the intersections for the new red light cameras will be determined by those with the highest number of right-angle crashes, frequency of red light running based on video surveillance and construction factors.

Some intersections in the Town of Babylon that already have red light cameras include Route 109 at New Highway in Farmingdale, Route 110 at Great Neck Road in Babylon, Straight Path at Sunrise Highway in Lindenhurst, and Delaware Avenue at Sunrise Highway in North Lindenhurst, according to Newsday.

We have to ask, are you in support of more red light cameras to improve safety or do you consider them just another money making scheme? What intersections do you think could benefit from a red light camera?