New York City Mayor Mamdani holds press conference at Grand Army Plaza in the Brooklyn borough of New York City
(New York, NY) – New York City drivers are about to face a massive expansion of automated traffic enforcement, as City Hall moves forward with plans to activate hundreds of new red light cameras across the five boroughs by the end of the year.
The New York City Department of Transportation says crews are now turning on roughly 50 new cameras per week, following approval from the state legislature to dramatically raise the city’s cap. The expansion boosts the number of red light camera intersections from just 150 to as many as 600- a fourfold increase.
City officials argue the cameras are meant to improve safety, but critics say the move amounts to an aggressive cash grab that further punishes working-class drivers already burdened by high taxes, tolls, and congestion fees. Automated enforcement tickets carry no points but still generate millions in fines, often with little transparency or accountability.
With installation expected to be completed before year’s end, motorists are being warned to expect near-constant surveillance at intersections citywide- a sharp escalation that critics say reflects New York’s growing reliance on cameras and fines instead of traditional policing and traffic enforcement.