Earlier this week the Buffalo Common Council voted to pass a resolution which would extend the warning period for drivers until the end of the months, but Brown says that he couldn't, in good conscience, grant that request.
"These kinds of behaviors, almost 40% of which are committed by individuals who don't live in the City of Buffalo, should worry all of us, demonstrate why a pilot program was necessary and requires immediate action that will reduce speeding in school zones and change driving behaviors in the City of Buffalo," he added.
However, as a sort of compromise and benefit to drivers, the city secured a $700,000 state grant to place flashing beacons in all of the school zones with cameras to further alert drivers that they are approaching camera-monitored zones. While the beacons are being installed, drivers will not be issued tickets, so the construction of the beacons serves as an additional "grace period."
"When you are driving in the City of Buffalo, and you see a flashing beacon up, if you speed past that beacon, you will be issued a violation," said Brown. "It is also important to note that Buffalo Police Officers currently are writing tickets for speeding while in the school zones and will continue to do so while the beacons are being installed."
There is a difference between an officer-issued ticket and a violation caught by the cameras. If caught by a camera, it will be a $50 violation. If a police officer pulls an individual over, then it's a traffic infraction which is then adjudicated at the Buffalo Traffic Violations Agency. The amount, in the latter case, will depend on the actual speed of the vehicle and the person's driving record.
As for when exactly the beacons will be set up, Public Works Commissioner Mike Finn wouldn't give a firm date, but he said they will be rolling them out incrementally in the very near future, and they'll prioritize their attention based on the riskiest school zone spots.