New York is one of several states that have several speed cameras to automatically cite drivers. In 2024, Staten Island drivers were issued more than $22 million from speed camera tickets. A $50 is automatically mailed to drivers if they’re caught by cameras traveling at more than 10 mph above the limit.
Well, drivers have had enough, and the “Staten Island Beautification Squad” decided to obscure speed camera lenses with fake flowers to prevent cameras from catching drivers.
The bunches of fabric flowers are attached to the camera poles with duct tape and zip ties, with a printed note that reads, “Brought to you by the Staten Island Beautification Squad.”
Naturally, the island’s Department of Transportation doesn’t appreciate the “decorations.” Instead, the agency has dubbed them as “obstructions” that have the potential to be deadly.
“Speeding kills. Tampering with speed cameras is unacceptable and puts lives at risk,” the agency wrote in a statement to CBS. “We are actively working with the NYPD and the perpetrators will be held accountable for jeopardizing public safety.”
Authorities say an investigation is ongoing to catch those tampering with cameras.
Residents have mixed feelings about the flowers
Several say the Squad was doing drivers a favor and deserved to be given a beer. Others feel as though the cameras are necessary to keep drivers in check.
“While I don’t encourage it, I can totally understand the frustration,” said resident Vito Fossella. “At the core of it, it’s not just about protecting kids around schools. It’s morphed into something dramatically different. And people, I think, are just getting fed up with being told, ‘Hey, we’ve got to do this and that to protect you’ when in fact, all it is is about money.”
Faith, another resident, said she feels unsafe with the cameras being obstructed.
“Especially on this block there’s a lot of car crashes and everything, so yeah, I feel a bit unsafe,” she said.
Viewers say the agency doesn’t care about safety
“The only reason they will be punished is because they interrupted the city’s cash flow,” wrote a viewer.
Someone else suggested a different strategy.
“They should do something that’s permanent like getting a drone to spray the camera,” they wrote.
Another wrote no one voted for speed cameras.
“That’s good, speed cameras shouldn’t be active to begin with,” they said. “This was not voted on by the people, the government has done this WITHOUT asking citizens first, just like the bikes, school zone cameras, etc.”
