Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Poughkeepsie

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Robert Rolison says this is needed

The City of Poughkeepsie requested this bill (Resolution R-26-11) after the tragic death of a school crossing guard. On September 29, 2025, 72-year-old James Montanino was struck and killed by a car while he was helping children cross the street near Smith Elementary School at the intersection of Baker Street and Quaker Street around 7:30 a.m. The school is located off a three-lane arterial highway. Speeding endangers every community in New York. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding drivers are at a higher risk for loss of control of their vehicle, reduce the effec- tiveness of occupant protection equipment, require an increased stopping distance after the driver perceives a danger, and increase the likeli- hood of a crash being severe. Consequently, driving above the posted speed limit is a factor in 29% of traffic related fatalities nationwide. This danger is magnified in school zones where large numbers of students are arriving by bus or on foot and are often outside during the school day. To mitigate this danger, New York City implemented the State's first speed camera pilot program in 2013. The program has been an overwhelming success. On average, speeding decreased 73% in school zones that had speed cameras added and some areas saw reductions of 90%. Cameras have also proven to be effective at preventing repeat offenses: 46% of drivers who received a ticket from these cameras did not receive a second and an additional 19% of drivers did not receive more than two between 2019 and 2021. New York City's program and those of other municipalities have demon- strated that speed camera programs make streets safer, Hopefully, these speed cameras will help avoid new tragedies in the City of Poughkeepsie near its schools.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.