STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Councilman Frank Morano announced on Friday that he’s asked the city for transparency about the speed camera data.
Morano said he has specifically asked Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez for the information, and he also filed a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request.
According to a press release, Morano asked Rodriguez in the letter for a detailed data on Staten Island speed camera violations, expressing that it is crucial to determine whether the speed cameras are truly a safety measure or more to obrain the money from fines.
“Staten Islanders paid more than $22 million in speed cameras fines last year alone,” said Morano. “My constituents deserve to know: are these cameras catching reckless drivers doing 50 miles per hour on Hylan Boulevard, or are they nailing moms and dads for going 36 in a 30?”
Morano also noted, “If it’s the former, then these cameras are keeping our roads safer. If it’s the latter, then it’s nothing more than a money grab. We need to see the data.”
The FOIL request Morano put in for asks the DOT to highlight the recorded speed for each violation that has been issued on the borough since January 2024.
In the letter to Rodriguez, Morano specifically asks for the following data:
– Speed distribution data for each speed camera locations on Staten Island, broken down by the recorded vehicle speed at the time of violation (number of summonses issued for 36 mph, 37 mph, 38 mph, and so on)
– Time of day distribution for these violations
– Comparative data showing the percentage of violations issued within 6 mph of the posted limit versus those 10 mph or more.
“This is about transparency and accountability,” Morano added. “If speed cameras are truly saving lives, then the city should have no problem showing us the numbers.”
Morano seeks to release the results of the FOIL request once the DOT responds to his query.
“[The] government should never hide information from the people footing the bill,” said Morano. “I will make sure Staten Islanders know the truth about how these cameras are being used in our borough.”
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