When Bill Finch was mayor he supported state legislation to create the installation of red light cameras at major intersections of the city. On the morning of Nov. 24 the vehicle assigned to the mayor featuring the exclusive BPT1 license plate was flagged running a red light by an automated camera at East 135th Street and Alexander Avenue in The Bronx. Whether Finch was behind the wheel that morning or a designated driver, because it’s a city registered vehicle guess who’s stuck paying the $50 fine? Yup, taxpayers.
The New York City Department of Finance and Red Light Camera Monitoring Program sent the city the $50 bill this week with a picture of the SUV including the BPT1 plate. The intersection runs along the Major Deegan Expressway I-87. The violation took place 10:13am six days prior to Finch leaving office on Nov. 30, the day he received about $17,000 for authorizing a retroactive pay raise for himself. He banked another $13,000 for unused sick time as mayor.
Ironically, in 2012 Finch issued a news release crowing his support for state legislation proposing red light camera installation asserting, “Studies show that drivers who run red lights cause hundreds of deaths and tens of thousands of injuries across the country each year. Enforcement is a key component, but allocating police resources to patrolling intersections as often as needed would take officers away from more serious work throughout City neighborhoods.”
According to a New York red light fact sheet, the red light camera is connected to a traffic light and is only active when the light is red, not when the light is green or yellow. The camera takes two photographs one second apart that include the vehicle plate.
In his eight years as mayor, Finch was sometimes behind the wheel of BPT1. Other times a city police officer or mayoral staffer would drive. Finch had meetings scheduled in New York City Nov. 24.
The due date of the $50 fine is January 15.
This could be the opportunity of a cost-saving measure. A policy in which parking and/or moving violations are covered by employees personally. Or perhaps reimbursed at 50%. This would help to promote more responsible driving as the cost of an infraction is up to the employee not the taxpayer and would help to cut city cost.
In the company I worked for if you received two traffic citations you lost the privilege of driving a company car plus you paid for any tickets.
I wonder what’s in that area of the Bronx in the morning? Hmmm!!!
*** If there was a vehicle log then the date, mileage and driver’s name should be in it, no? If indeed it was Finch, the city he claims to love so much should send him the bill. *** Merry Christmas ***
*** Maybe it’s a ho stroll at night and changes back to normal after 8am! ***
Thank goodness Finch didn’t get re-elected because Bridgeport couldn’t afford his love of the city much longer. Love isn’t supposed to hurt, Bill!
This is FUCKING news to report and comment on a 50 fucking dollar ticket??? Good thing it wasn’t millions of taxpayers dollars! Fifty fucking dollars? Let’s talk about the $50 if Finch ever runs for re-election. Oh, Merry Christmas to all on OIB, may it be peaceful and joyous and to all a very happy, safe, productive New Year.
And to you Lennie Grimaldi, Thank G-d whatever that flesh-eating disease you had was, is gone! Best wishes and good health. G-d bless the city of Bridgeport! Amen.
That’s right Stevie, 50 fucking dollars. What was Finch doing in the Bronx, buying crack? Your hero is a zero.
Red Light … District?
It’s not easy being Green!
There are nine posts on the subject of this $50 ticket. When JML showed how we were getting screwed out of millions, hardly a peep. Amazing.
Ron, half an eight ball came to my mind.
Merry Christmas to everyone on OIB and your family.
Let me see, Finch got $17,000 plus another $12,000 for selling back vacation days and he’s about to leave office as mayor and he’s riding in the Bronx in the morning, now what in the world was Mayor Finch doing in the Bronx again because I missed hearing why he was there.
I see Nov. 24th was the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.