Syracuse, New York Shelves Red-light Camera Plans

Syracuse is following the lead of several other cities and shelving its plans for stoplight cameras.

The Post-Standard of Syracuse reports that the city had asked companies to bid on installing cameras at intersections last fall in hopes of catching people who run red lights. A spokesman for Mayor Stephanie Miner told the newspaper that the project was abandoned last week.

Spokesman Bill Ryan said the cameras have brought criticism and legal hassles in other cities. Seven states – Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, West Virginia and Wisconsin – have banned red light cameras. Lost Angeles was losing $1.5 million a year on its cameras.

Syracuse Common Councilor Lance Denno said he didn’t think cameras would make the city’s streets safer.