Golden, Gentile Take Opposing Views On Speed Enforcement Cameras

This week we reported on calls by local political leaders to have the city invest in speed enforcement cameras, devices designed to reduce speeding in areas with lower police presence. While many politicians are eager to get speed enforcement cameras installed throughout the city in the wake of a series of fatal hit and run accidents, not all political leaders are convinced that the cameras will be helpful in the long run.

According to a report on Streets Blog, Republican State Senator Marty Golden has come out against the potential employment of the cameras because he believes that a camera is no substitute for a police officer.

“What we need are the actual police officers on the street. Cops on the street are what slows people down,” Golden said, according to Streets Blog.

Golden, along with other opponents of speed enforcement cameras, believe that the cameras are incapable of detecting drunk drivers, escaping criminals or people carrying unlicensed weapons. In other words, they are incapable of performing police work.

On the other side of the spectrum, according to a report in the New York Daily News, Democratic Councilman Vincent Gentile wants to put it all on the table. He favors the installation of the cameras, but he agrees with Golden in that cameras are no substitute for increased police presence. Gentile has proposed putting

“There are simply too many drivers speeding and not enough enforcement resources at this time,” who plans to introduce another resolution in the Council calling on the NYPD to hire and deploy the cops.

“Whether its speed cameras, education programs, more cops or more enforcement – there is no single panacea,” he said. “But something has to be done. Nothing can be left off the table when lives are at stake.”