BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Buffalo Common Council tabled their Tuesday conversation about what to do about the city's controversial speed zone cameras.
When the council last month voted to remove the cameras, many thought it was an immediate decision. However, the cameras are not due to come down until September 1.
Still, lawmakers are looking to get definitive answers on what's next.
"People continue to get tickets even though the legislation we put forth as it was approved officially on June 15 would not allow for additional tickets," Councilman Rasheed Wyatt said. "We just need to know where we're going and if the letters and things have gone out to the vendors to cease and desist these cameras so we can begin using the non-punitive measures to slow down speeding in school zones."
Recently, the city changed the speed limit in the school zone from 15 mph to 20 mph.
Buffalo Parking Commissioner Kevin Helfer did not attend the virtual meeting due to "mixed wires" but said he could attend the next caucus meeting scheduled for Monday.
"That's how we're gonna do it?" Wyatt said about Helfer's absence. "I guess that's what we have to do."
The cameras have been criticized for running during an entire school day instead of during peak traffic times. Many have also called the speed cameras a "cash grab" by the city. Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown defended the speed zone cameras, saying it helped with public safety by preventing injury or death of those in a school zone from speeding drivers.
"Our desire is for those cameras to come down," Councilman David Rivera said. "Every day those cameras are up is a reminder of a bad policy that the city has. They should come down."
Questions still remain about how the city will take the cameras down, such as how much it will cost for the city to remove them.
