Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced New York State is providing 235 police departments and sheriffs’ offices with state-of-the-art radar units, investing more than $343,000 to replace old or obsolete devices used for speed enforcement. This is the first time in nearly two decades that the state has provided funding for the technology, which will allow agencies to more effectively target reckless drivers, making roadways safer for motorists and passengers.

“Speeding and reckless driving cause far too many avoidable tragedies,” Governor Cuomo said. “We’re proud to help our law enforcement agencies obtain the tools and equipment they need to combat this on dangerous behavior on our roadways and save lives in the process.”

More than 28,000 vehicle crashes in New York during 2014 were attributed to speed, with 280 of them resulting in death and another 1,661 resulting in serious injury. Radar units typically run upward of $1,500, a cost traditionally absorbed by local agencies. While state and federal grants are often available for a wide range of police equipment and technology, there is seldom funding for speed enforcement devices.

The need for new technology was identified by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services Highway Safety Technology Unit, which annually performs preventative maintenance and repairs on about 5,500 radar devices used by agencies across the state. While performing that work – done at no cost to agencies – technicians determined many of the units were too costly to repair, others lacked an ‘instant on’ transmit feature and some were too large for newer-model police cruisers, limiting their use.

(YWN Desk – NYC)