BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — If you travel along the 198 in Buffalo you may have noticed a work zone. In that work zone, there is a work zone speed camera that is part of the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement Program.
7 News has received complaints from some residents who shared their frustration and believe they were unfairly ticketed.
"I got two tickets in one week and you don't know until you get it in the mail," Patrick Freeman said.
"It turns very quickly to 30 miles an hour where you have to slow down but the problem is that you've got the Sister's Hospital exit, then you have a merging exit to get on the 198. Then, the exit that I have to take is to get off at Parkside. They're very close to each other. If you're in the left lane, you have to speed up to try to get over and then you slow back down," Freeman added.
He said he paid for both tickets online but plans to dispute it.
"It cost me $50 a ticket plus surcharge, a $107.50," Freeman said.
He said one of his kids got the first ticket and he was behind the wheel for the second ticket. He was going 47 mph in a 30 mph zone in his Cadillac SUV.
"It's truly hard to go from 50 to 30," Richard James said.
James takes the 198 about three to four days a week when going to the gym.
Just like Freeman, James is calling it a "money grab."
"What stuck out about the ticket was that it's not even coming from New York State. The camera system that they use is coming from Philadelphia. So, that was the first red flag," James explained. "I have gotten a speeding ticket before. Usually, you get points on your license. Usually, those are more than $50. To me, you are just trying to get money, the State, that is."
I spoke with neighbors at Hoyt Lake on Tuesday afternoon as well. One told me the speed camera is fine, but a warning sign would be nice.
"You should transition down in speed from 50 to 45 then 30, or with the warning signs so at least people know the speed is going down," Soham Shah said.
"I think it definitely poses, especially if you're going 55 or a 50, and then it goes drastically to 30, realistically to not get a ticket, you would have to be really slamming on your breaks and I think that poses risks to drivers behind you," Mason De Las Alas added.
As a former police officer, Freeman added that having this speed camera takes away the compassion that a good law enforcement officer does when enforcing the law.
"That includes vehicle and traffic laws, penal law. You look at the dimension of the person that is affected. A camera cannot do that. I was not given the same courtesy that I gave for residents for 30 and a half years," Freeman added.
I reached out to the New York State Department of Transportation and received the following statement:
"Nothing is more important to the Department of Transportation than the safety of our workers, and an important tool in we utilize to protect our workers is the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement Program. Since work started in the spring, Automated Work Zone cameras have been intermittently set up along the Scajaquada Expressway while crews perform bridge repairs. The posted speed limit along the Scajaquada under normal circumstances is 30 miles per hour, and that remains unchanged within our work zone.
During this time, our cameras have recorded thousands of motorists speeding through our work zones, including incomprehensible speeds of more than 70 miles per hour 15 times and 80 miles per hour five times. This is completely unacceptable driver behavior that puts our workers at risk on the job. The Department of Transportation is not in the gotcha business – we are in the safety business – and we will continue to do everything in our power to keep our workers safe. Motorists need to slow down, pay attention and do their part to maintain a safe roadway system."
