New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn on Friday said the city began activating additional red light cameras across the city to protect New Yorkers as they travel through intersections.
The DOT will activate red light cameras at 50 new intersections per week over the next five weeks. Prior to the expansion that is now underway, red light cameras were in place at 150 intersections—the maximum previously allowed under state law. The state legislature authorized the city to expand red light cameras to a total of 600 intersections.
“Red light running is one of the most dangerous behaviors on our city’s streets and puts all New Yorkers at risk. That is why we are taking immediate action to ramp up the city’s red light camera program,” Flynn said in a statement.
Where cameras have been installed, the DOT recorded a 73% percent decline in red-light running, a 65% decline in T-bone crashes, and a 49% drop in rear-end collisions, according to officials.
The program has also proven to change driver behavior and prevent repeat offenders, officials said. In 2023, 94% of vehicles caught running a red light received no more than one or two violations. Fewer than 0.5% of vehicles received five or more violations.
If a vehicle is photographed running a red light, the registered owner of the vehicle will receive a Notice of Liability by mail, typically within 30 days of the violation The fine for a red light camera violation is $50.
The cameras will be placed at intersections across the five boroughs based on criteria including crash history. The DOT will complete the expansion to all 600 intersections by the end of 2026, according to officials.
