Wantagh Native Fighting Against Red-Light Camera Placement

Story written by Scott Moore. 

A Wantagh High School graduate whose West Babylon home is set to be lit up all evening long by a new red-light traffic camera has started a petition to ask politicians to remove the cameras from residential areas.

Daniel McCarthy, who grew up in Wantagh and now lives in West Babylon near a soon-to-be-installed camera at the intersection of Great East Neck Road and Arnold Avenue, is petitioning to have the government not install the cameras and their bright lights in areas where homes are located.

The new camera and light near his home, McCarthy told FiOS 1, will light up his living room and recently born daughter's room when it goes off, potentially leading to more than simply being bothered.

"There's going to be no sleep, it's going to wake the babies.. make the dog bark," he told FiOS 1.

McCarthy, a volunteer EMS worker, said he has rarely seen any accidents at the intersection, although the county argues it was one of the area's more dangerous intersections.

"I just don't think these should be installed in residential areas," he said.

The petition, currently hosted on Change.org, has just over 50 percent of the signatures it needs to be sent out. Those interested in reading and signing the petition can find it here.