Suffolk County could must pay again as a lot as $91 million in shady charges collected from its controversial red-light digital camera program — a price that would trigger price range mayhem.
The Lengthy Island county is already going through a possible battle over its spending plan, with its Funds Assessment Workplace forecasting a large $552 million deficit by 2028.
Suffolk ended its red-light program on Dec. 1 however two courts dominated {that a} $30 administrative charge it tacked onto violations because the program launched in 2010 was unlawful as a result of it exceeded a $50 most nice.
The county is interesting the choice.
“Whereas the county can not touch upon the specifics of pending litigation, it’s not doable to foretell how the county would handle this case,” County Govt Ed Romaine stated in an announcement.
If Suffolk loses the attraction, the county could must pay much more than simply reimbursing drivers who paid the additional charges as a result of state legislation requires 9% curiosity for every year the cash goes unpaid, in keeping with David Raimondo, an legal professional representing Suffolk drivers in a class-action lawsuit.
Earlier this month, Romaine warned constituents that the approaching monetary state of affairs would require “some extraordinary budgeting” and “not everybody’s going to be pleased” — however the looming payout is only one piece of a a lot larger puzzle.
County officers additionally must fund a newly accredited police union contract with boosted pay, hammer out a number of different pending labor offers, and deal with the uncertainty of future federal help and an economic system specialists warn is on the decline.
Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy Jr. didn’t reply to a request for remark.
In the meantime, Nassau County could must cough up much more than Suffolk, because it hit red-light runners with not solely the usual $50 nice, however added a $45 “driver duty charge,” and a $55 “public security charge” — bringing the overall further price of a single ticket to $150.
The additional charges raked in $64 million in gross income for Nassau in 2022 alone, in keeping with data obtained by Newsday.
It’s unclear the overall quantity the county could owe, however Democratic lawmakers within the Nassau Board of Legislators lately launched a invoice that may completely eradicate administrative charges and set up a fund to reimburse ticketed drivers charged with these charges.
“For years, Nassau’s crimson mild cameras have been extra about income than security — and drivers paid the value,” Seth Koslow, a Democrat who launched the invoice in December 2024, advised The Submit. “My invoice places a reimbursement the place it belongs: within the pockets of Nassau’s hardworking residents. It’s time to cease the fleecing and begin the refunding,” he stated.
Nassau County Govt Bruce Blakeman didn’t reply to a request for remark.
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