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State to bankroll new police radars

Posted at 7:01 AM, Mar 29, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-29 07:01:45-04

Two local law enforcement agencies are already benefiting from new radar technology paid for with state money.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday that the state is investing $343,000 to replace speed radar equipment for 235 police departments and sheriffs' offices. The radar units are used to catch reckless drivers and make the roads safer for everyone. The last time the state paid for new radar units was in 1999 because the cost is usually absorbed by local agencies.  However, a typical unit costs $1,500, and the Governor says that tightening budgets has made it difficult for agencies to replace old or broken units. As a result, the units being replaced are an average of 20 years old.

The Erie County Sheriffs' Office and the New York State Park Police in Niagara Falls are two of 22 agencies across the state that have already received the new equipment.

The state highway department is replacing the units on an as-needed basis, with the intention of distributing new units through the end of 2016. Each agency will receive one new unit.