Man Accused Of Covering Up Red Light Cameras In Smithtown

SMITHTOWN, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island man was arrested Friday and charged with covering up red light cameras in Smithtown.

Bryan Valentine, 26, of St. James, was arrested after a driver called 911 to report a man placing plastic bags over two red light cameras at Main Street and Landing Avenue in Smithtown, Suffolk County police said.

Based on a description given by the 911 caller, Valentine was found and apprehended a short distance away, police said.

Valentine was charged with two counts of criminal tampering. He was to be arraigned on Saturday at Suffolk County First District Court in Central Islip.

The cameras In Suffolk County for years have sparked protests from those who say their real purpose is to generate revenue for the county.

Another man -- Stephen Ruth, of Centereach -- was dubbed the "red light robin hood" after deliberately breaking the law to fight against the red light camera legislation last year.

After being arrested for tampering with the cameras, Ruth said he filmed hundreds of red light cameras in Suffolk, claiming the county changed the timing on yellow lights to help increase revenue.

The claims sparked GOP leaders to call for a halt to the program. In October 2015, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone refuted the claim, telling WCBS 880, "there's no basis for that in reality whatsoever."