According to a new law passed by the New York State Council on May 26th alongside the new fiscal budget, habitual speeders in the city will be required to install speed limit devices on their vehicles, using GPS technology to tightly lock the vehicle speed, preventing it from exceeding the speed limit set for that particular road section.
This new law will officially come into effect approximately one year after the state governor, Hochu, signs the budget, and will only apply to new violations recorded after the law’s effective date.
This new law is a significant upgrade based on New York City’s existing “School Zone Speed Camera Program.” According to state law, these speed cameras are placed within a quarter-mile radius around schools, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week within New York City.
Currently, if a vehicle exceeds the speed limit by 10 miles per hour (Mph) in any of the city’s 750 school zone speed camera locations, the vehicle owner will receive a $50 automated ticket in the mail.
However, it is evident that mere fines are not enough to deter everyone. Statistics show that about 15,000 cars in the city continue to speed recklessly even after receiving multiple tickets, and this new law targets this small group of “stubborn offenders.”
The transportation advocacy group, “Transportation Alternatives,” after analyzing the city’s speed data, pointed out that these habitual speeders often drive high-end luxury cars. The report indicates that most of the repeat offenders drive newer models of BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and large luxury SUVs. For this group of affluent car owners, a $50 fine is insignificant, only mandatory vehicle modification can truly slow them down.
To prevent drivers from circumventing the law, the new legislation has established a strict punishment mechanism:
* Core Provision: Vehicles caught on speed cameras in school zones 16 times or more within a year must install intelligent GPS speed limiters.
* Defiance Penalty: Drivers who refuse to install the device as required will face fines ranging from $1,500 to $2,500.
* Registration Revocation: If the device is not installed within 45 days after the specified deadline, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will directly revoke the vehicle’s registration.
* Anti-Tamper Measures: If a vehicle owner is found attempting to remove, damage, or bypass the speed limiter, they will be fined an equivalent amount, in addition to a one-year registration suspension and an extension of the deadline for installing the speed limiter.
The passage of this legislation is seen as a belated justice for many families who have lost loved ones due to traffic accidents. Darnell Sealy-McCrorey, a member of the “Families for Safe Streets” organization, highly praises the law. In 2024, his 13-year-old daughter tragically lost her life after being struck by a speeding car near Manhattan Avenue and West 110th Street.