BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - Speed zone cameras at two schools in the City of Buffalo will go live beginning on Wednesday, according to city officials.
Canisius High School and Stanley Makowski Early Childhood Center will be the first two schools in the city to issue a fine to drivers who go more than 26 miles per hour in a school zone.
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said there was a wait to activate the school zone cameras because of a desire to install flashing beacons to give drivers more warning.
"It's an additional 30 seconds to travel a school zone at 15 miles an hour compared to 30 miles an hour," Public Works Commissioner Mike Finn said. "I think that's a reasonable ask that we make of commuters."
According to the City of Buffalo, 34 percent of drivers in one week in January traveled slower than 26 miles per hour in a school zone with a maximum speed of 15 miles per hour. By the week of February 24, 82 percent of drivers traveled slower than 26 miles per hour. The city said that 33 percent of drivers traveled at or below the posted speed limit.
A $50 fine will be automatically issued to drivers by the camera who travel 11 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit of a school zone that is 15 miles per hour. Buffalo Police can ticket anyone going above the posted speed limit, regardless of how much over the speed limit they are. Warnings will no longer be issued.
Canisius and Makowski were the first two zones to go live because of the volume of traffic at their respective schools. Brown said the public will be alerted when other cameras go live.