Village green lights camera

Drivers on Sunrise Highway who blow through a red light at Green Acres Road West will soon be getting an unpleasant surprise in the mail — a traffic ticket.

Valley Stream will be getting its first red light camera in the coming months as part of Nassau County’s new program. More than 20 intersections already have these cameras in place to catch motorists who don’t stop after the light turns red.

“It’s one of the intersections with the highest accident rates in the county,” said Ian Siegel, deputy county executive.

The cameras will face both directions of Sunrise Highway and it will be one of 50 intersections in Nassau County included in the red light program.

Because Sunrise Highway is a state road, and the traffic light is operated by the state, the county must receive a special permit to have a camera there. Siegel said they are currently in the process of receiving authorization. He hopes the camera will be active by the end of this year or early next year. “The intersection will be a lot safer,” he said.

Additionally, because the intersection is located within village boundaries, the Board of Trustees had to approve the installation of the camera. Valley Stream Village Clerk Vinny Ang said the red light camera law requires this approval, which was granted at the Nov. 16 meeting. “That was our role in it,” he said.

Nassau County will collect the $50 fine from anyone who runs the red light. The ticket is sent to the owner of the car.