City of Syracuse Seeks Input on Proposed Surveillance Technology

Published on January 03, 2024

The City of Syracuse is seeking community input on proposed surveillance technology, a requirement of Mayor Walsh’s Executive Order No. 2. The Syracuse Department of Public Works (DPW) is considering the use of automated speed and redlight enforcement in school zones and stop arm cameras on city school buses. This technology would capture images of vehicles in school zones that break speed limits, and/or fail to stop for red lights. Cameras attached to stop sign arms on school buses would capture images of vehicles that fail to stop for buses loading and unloading students.

When a vehicle is observed speeding, failing to stop for red lights in school zones, or passing a school bus stop arm, an automated ticket--once verified by law enforcement--would be issued to the registered owner of the car. DPW is considering installation of these devices at up to 70 static locations around schools and on all 170 Syracuse City School District school buses.

The City’s Surveillance Technology Working Group, appointed by Mayor Ben Walsh, will accept public comment on the proposed technology for 14 days, beginning Wednesday, Jan 3 through Wednesday, Jan 17. To submit a comment, residents can visit https://goto.syr.gov/stwg-redlightcameras.

Mayor Walsh signed the Surveillance Technology Executive Order in 2020, ensuring residents have input on proposed uses of surveillance technologies by the City of Syracuse. The Surveillance Technology Executive Order puts in place policies and procedures for oversight on how the city pays for such technology and ensures that surveillance tools are used in a safe and well-governed way.

The group is managed by the Office of Analytics, Performance and Innovation and is made up of City of Syracuse staff, community advocates, and technology and ethics experts. Questions regarding the review of surveillance technology can be directed to https://syr.gov/SurveillanceTech.