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Nassau County Forgiving School Zone Speeding Tickets

MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Nassau County is forgiving $4.2 million in speed camera fines issued in the last month.

County Executive Edward Mangano said there were problems with cameras installed at six school locations because of malfunctions in the equipment and the timing.

Mangano said he is declaring amnesty on the fines. He said enforcement resumes when school opens next month.

"Clearly, there were some errors in the speed zone violations, so we're meeting with the vendor and our traffic safety department to make certain that those errors are corrected," Mangano told 1010 WINS. "So as a matter of fairness, we're eliminating all those tickets."

Nassau County Forgiving School Zone Speeding Tickets

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation this year allowing 200 new speed cameras at school zones in New York City and Long Island. The cameras are supposed to operate during and immediately before and after school.

"Many of the residents believed there was not enough notice, so this will serve as a notice of the new state law that there will be speed cameras in school zones come this September with the opening of school," Mangano said.

Mangano said anyone who paid their ticket will be issued a refund from the Traffic and Parking Violations Bureau.

"Those who haven't paid their tickets can have fun ripping them up," Mangano told WCBS 880's Ginny Kosola.

The state allows speed cameras to ticket drivers going more than 10 mph over the school speed limit on school days during school hours, plus an hour before and after school and during school activities.

In total, Nassau issued 30,108 citations at the five schools, totaling more than $2.4 million in fines.

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