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New YorkS 56772025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

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

Sponsored By: James Tedisco (Republican)

Signed by Governor

TRANSPORTATIONWAYS AND MEANS

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Schenectady gains school-zone speed camera authority

The law lets Schenectady choose to run a temporary speed camera program in up to 20 school zones at once. Each zone borders a school building or nearby school entrance or exit and cannot exceed 1,320 feet. Cameras can run when school speed limits apply. For other covered speed limits, allowed hours include school hours and one hour before and after school on school days. They also include student activities and up to 30 minutes before and after them. The city must consider speed data, crash history, and road design when choosing zones. While operating the program, it must report results to the Governor and legislative leaders by June 1 each year. Reports must cover camera locations and deployment dates; available crash, death, injury, and property-damage data; notices; fines paid after first notices; revenue; and expenses. They must also cover hearings, outcomes, and hearing quality. Recorded violations must be grouped by time and speed over the limit: 10–20, 20–30, 30–40, and above 40 mph.

Camera privacy protections limit public access

Schenectady must use practical technology to avoid identifying drivers, passengers, or vehicle contents in camera images. An identifying image alone does not cancel a notice when the city shows reasonable compliance efforts. The city can use images only to issue notices and decide liability under the program. Owners and drivers can inspect, copy, and use their images while the city keeps them. Images must be destroyed after all related cases end or one year after notice issuance, whichever is later. Images are generally protected from public disclosure and civil or criminal discovery. Release through a search warrant or subpoena requires the specified court and offense-related conditions. The public-records exemption takes effect 30 days after enactment and expires December 31, 2030.

School-zone fines with protections for owners

Under the city-run program, vehicle owners face fines up to $50 for each camera-recorded violation. The vehicle must travel more than 10 mph over the posted limit during allowed hours and be used with the owner's permission. Failing to respond on time can add up to $25. These fines are not criminal convictions, do not enter driving records, and cannot be used for insurance purposes. Notices arrive by first-class mail and must explain how and when to challenge liability through the Schenectady Parking Violations Bureau. Each notice must include the owner's name and address, vehicle registration number, violation location and time, and camera or document identifier. It must also include two time-stamped rear images showing a nearby fixed object and a sworn city technician's certificate. That certificate serves as evidence unless rebutted. Ignoring the notice counts as admitting liability and can lead to a default judgment. Owners can challenge the presumption of permission or show that the camera malfunctioned. Owners are not liable when the driver is convicted of the underlying speeding violation. A stolen-vehicle or stolen-plate defense requires a police report made before the violation and no recovery by that time. Lessors can shift liability to lessees after filing required information before the violation and supplying correct lessee and contract details. They have 37 days after receiving the bureau's notice to supply those details. Owners also retain the right to sue drivers to recover payments.

Schenectady cameras face testing and purchasing rules

Each camera system must pass a self-test every day it runs and receive annual calibration by an independent laboratory. Schenectady must post advance warning signs that follow traffic-sign standards. Operators must be trained and sign a daily setup log showing that testing was completed. Logs stay on file until permanent system removal or final resolution of all related cases, whichever is later. Annual calibration certificates stay on file until all cases tied to that year's notices are finally resolved. Equipment buyers and lessees must follow the local government purchasing rules in section 103 of the General Municipal Law. That purchasing requirement takes effect 30 days after enactment and expires December 31, 2030.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • James Tedisco

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Patricia Fahy

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 184 • No: 32

House vote • 6/13/2025

Assembly floor vote

Yes: 108 • No: 29

committee vote • 6/12/2025

Rules Committee Vote

Yes: 19 • No: 1

Senate vote • 6/12/2025

FLOOR Vote

Yes: 57 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. SIGNED CHAP.483

    10/27/2025Senate

  2. DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR

    10/24/2025Senate

  3. RETURNED TO SENATE

    6/13/2025House

  4. PASSED ASSEMBLY

    6/13/2025House

  5. HOME RULE REQUEST

    6/13/2025House

  6. ORDERED TO THIRD READING RULES CAL.666

    6/13/2025House

  7. SUBSTITUTED FOR A7669

    6/13/2025House

  8. REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS

    6/12/2025House

  9. DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

    6/12/2025Senate

  10. PASSED SENATE

    6/12/2025Senate

  11. ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1880

    6/12/2025Senate

  12. COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES

    6/12/2025Senate

  13. REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

    2/27/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Original

    2/27/2025

    PDF

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