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Politics & Government

Mayor Supports Plan for Red Light Camera Installation

Ekstrand says the devices will probably serve to slow some people down through Farmingdale.

Farmingdale Village Mayor stated his support for plans to add red light cameras to three intersections in Farmingdale. 

The discussion took place during a work session on Aug. 13. 

The plan for the cameras originally came from Nassau County which requested the village allow them in Farmingdale.

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"I firmly believe that people slow down where there is photo electric enforcement. I just believe that people do it. Not everybody is going to slow down, but I know that the great majority of people that I know and talk to, when they see signs…they automatically slow down. It is just human nature,"  Ekstrand said.

He said he is pushing for a camera to be installed at Staples Street and Route 109. Originally just two intersections, Route 109 and Main Street and NY 24 and Merrits Road, were under consideration for cameras.

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"We are never going to get traffic calming on 109. We have had five deaths. We know we have had five deaths," he said.

The board has delayed the public hearing on the matter after concerns from Trustee Cheryl Parisi. Ekstrand said he is honoring her request for more data from traffic engineers involved with the project before going forward with the vote.

"The numbers that we all received from them…the amount of turns, the amount of accidents...where did they get that data from and how did they make it applicable was her question," the mayor said. "I told her until she gets that answer we won't vote on it."

No revenue would come to the village from the tickets if the plan were to pass.

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