New York — the city that never sleeps — may be slowly turning into a city of slower movement. Under a new proposal, drivers could be fined for speeding in school zones at any hour of the day, even at 3 a.m. when no children are present. Critics argue this is less about safety and more about turning speed cameras into revenue-generating tools.
New York City is already earning hundreds of millions of dollars annually from speed camera violations. Now, officials are considering expanding enforcement to 2,300 school locations across all five boroughs. If implemented, the move could effectively turn much of the city into one large school zone — enforced automatically, without the
need for new legislation.
This comes after the rollout of congestion pricing, which requires drivers to pay a toll to enter parts of Manhattan. Critics say the proposed expansion of camera enforcement would add yet another layer of costs for drivers across the city.
Economists warn that slower traffic could double delivery times, reduce productivity for tradespeople such as plumbers and contractors, and ultimately increase costs for everyday goods and services. The burden, they say, would fall most heavily on working-class residents who rely on driving for their livelihoods.
At the same time, the city’s traffic safety record has shown improvement. Last year, 205 traffic-related deaths were recorded — the lowest number since record-keeping began in 1905. Still, critics question whether a 24-hour enforcement policy is necessary if the primary goal is to protect children during school hours.
New York — long known as the city that never sleeps — now faces a new question: Is it becoming a place where simply getting around comes at an increasing cost?
