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New York, NY Mobility & Curb Rules: Red-Light Cameras (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Camera cap
600 intersections citywide at once
Base fine
up to $50 per violation
Late penalty
additional $25 for no response
Covered-vehicle trigger
5 red-light violations in 12 months
Enforcement tool
sheriff seizure and impoundment

Summary

New York City runs red-light and school-zone speed cameras under Administrative Code programs, capping automated red-light enforcement at 600 signalized intersections citywide and escalating penalties, including vehicle impoundment, against repeat offenders.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the parking violations bureau is hereby authorized and empowered to establish a demonstration program imposing monetary liability on the owner of a vehicle for failure of an operator thereof to comply with traffic-control indications in accordance with the provisions of this section. The department of transportation, for purposes of implementation of such program, shall be authorized to install and operate traffic-control signal photo violation-monitoring devices at no more than six hundred intersections at any one time.

Full Breakdown

Admin Code § 19-210 lets the Parking Violations Bureau and DOT run a red-light camera demonstration program at no more than 600 intersections at a time, ticketing the vehicle owner up to $50 per violation plus a $25 late penalty. The separate Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Law (§ 19-199.2 to § 19-199.7, Local Law 2020/036) flags any vehicle with 5+ red-light camera violations or 15+ school speed camera violations in 12 months as a 'covered vehicle': the owner must complete a safe vehicle operation course or the city sheriff can seize and impound the car after an OATH hearing.

Violations & Fines

Up to $50 per red-light camera notice of liability, plus $25 for failing to respond in time. A vehicle with 5+ red-light or 15+ school-zone speed camera violations in 12 months can be ordered into a safe-driving course, and non-compliant vehicles are seized and impounded by the city sheriff until the owner completes the course and pays impound costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many red-light cameras can NYC run at once?
No more than 600 traffic-control signal photo violation-monitoring devices at any one time, under Administrative Code § 19-210, installed and operated by DOT for the Parking Violations Bureau.
What happens after too many camera tickets?
5+ red-light or 15+ school speed camera violations in 12 months makes a vehicle 'covered' under § 19-199.2; the owner must finish a safe-driving course or the sheriff can seize and impound the car.

Sources & Official References

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