Speed cameras go live on Bay Road after two fatal crashes
Warnings will be issued for the first month before fines begin
Speed cameras began operating on Bay Road on Monday, three months after the second fatal crash on the stretch this year. Drivers will receive warnings until mid October, when fines begin.
See also
Staff at the Harbor Authority will hold three open sessions next month so residents can ask questions and review the maps. Dates and locations will be posted on the county website and at the public library.
Similar programs in nearby coastal towns have produced mixed results. In one case, participation exceeded projections within the first year; in another, delays in permitting pushed the launch back by almost twelve months.
The city expects to publish a first progress report in the autumn. Until then, the planning office will accept written comments by email and at the front desk of City Hall during business hours.
Where the cameras are
Local employers have welcomed the news. "Anything that makes it easier for people to get to work and back is good for us," said Priya Natarajan, who runs a family business near the marina and employs about forty people during the summer season.
The proposal had stalled twice before, most recently in 2024, when a change in leadership at the Harbor Authority put several projects on hold. This time, officials say, the funding is secured and the contracts are signed.
The decision follows months of public meetings in Port Ellery, where residents pressed officials for a clearer timeline and a firm budget. Council members said the final plan reflects most of that feedback, although two of the seven seats voted against it.