Prominent activist of Staten Island, Scott LoBaido, has publicly confessed to being the person behind a flower-adorned interference against over 24 speed cameras. In a recent interview with Advance/SILive.com, LoBaido declared that he intends to surrender to law enforcement in relation to the ongoing protest that has drawn the attention of local administrations and triggered a collective investigation.
Known for his numerous protests regarding government lockdowns, coronavirus vaccines, and immigration issues, LoBaido is expected to face charges entailing disorderly conduct, which is legally considered as a misdemeanor rather than a felony. He has indicated his plan to present himself, along with his legal representative, to the official police department at 123rd Precinct station located in Tottenville early on the upcoming Monday.
Amidst this unfolding event, police arrived at a Staten Island local’s residence as a part of their inquiry into the camera disruptions on Wednesday evening. Following the instruction of a formal warrant, law enforcement confiscated the islander’s 2024 Cadillac Escalade, identified similarly to a vehicle spotted in the vicinity of the speed cameras as per surveillance footage, based on court records.
Upon learning about the incident, LoBaido, working with his counsel, Mark Fonte, agreed to issue a declaration to the police, taking complete accountability for all the incidents of disruption. This agreement rested on the precondition that the confiscated vehicle would be returned to its lawful owner once the court proceedings have concluded.
In his statements, LoBaido maintained, ‘I cannot, with a clear conscience, allow an innocent man to take the fall for something that I did alone.’ LoBaido described his comrade as a loyal friend who routinely assisted his nationalistic artwork ventures, further explaining, ‘I will be turning myself in Monday morning to clear this all up. All other details will be in a public statement once I am released from the precinct and after seeing the judge.’
Sources indicate that instead of a simple desk appearance ticket and subsequent court enlistment, the accused is expected to face an arraignment in a Criminal Court on the same day for resolution. The district attorney’s office spokesperson decided against commenting on the matter on Friday. Depending on the court’s judgement, LoBaido might be subjected to financial penalties as well as other forms of redress to settle the case.
As per court documents, over two dozen cameras throughout Staten Island were identified as the objects of the disruption. An official from the Department of Transportation (DOT) shared earlier that local administrators were conscious of the predicament and had already removed similar obstructions from 14 speed cameras installed around Staten Island.
Reflecting the urgency, a DOT spokesperson noted, ‘Speeding kills. Messing with speed cameras is not to be tolerated and endangers lives. We are collaboratively working with the NYPD, and the responsible parties will face legal repercussions for endangering public welfare.’
Since their introduction in 2014, speed cameras around the borough have been a topic of constant criticism among local drivers. They argue that the automated enforcement comes off as mere revenue generation for the city, presented under the mask of a public safety instrument.
In the beginning of the year, a person or a group pledging themselves as the ‘Staten Island Beautification Squad’ initiated a campaign protesting against the speed cameras. They employed miniature floral arrangements to obscure the view of these ticketing devices. Social media saw varying reactions to the shared images of the flower-blocked cameras, while some users cheered for this floral rebellion others argued it to be a tacit support for speeding during a time when pedestrian fatalities have increased in the borough.
New York City operates its speed cameras across the five boroughs round-the-clock, issuing tickets to offending drivers every single day of the year. A significant amplification in this system was noted in August 2022. Though the installation limit in school zones is legally limited to 750 cameras, multiple devices are allowed within the zones, as a result approximately 2,000 cameras are operational across the five boroughs.
According to the existing rules, speed cameras must be established within a 1/4 mile radius from a school building. The cameras levy a $50 fine on motorists exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 mph. In 2023, the boroughs collectively reported 4.45 million school-zone speed-camera violations, leading to an astounding $222 million in fines citywide.
Compared to all the boroughs, Staten Island recorded the least violations, however, their recorded 312,083 violations translated to $15,604,150 in monetary fines. This contrasts significantly with Queens which hosted the maximum number of infringements, nearly 1,739,345 which led to a staggering $86,967,250 in penalties.