• Meeting Called to Order: 11:00 A.M.

• Roll Call:  Inspector David Regina, Suffolk County PD, Director of Public Safety Richard Tantalo, Monroe County, Chief Kenzie Spaulding, Corning PD, Chief William Worden, Port Jervis PD, Commissioner Kenneth Jackson, Garden City PD, Chief (ret.) Daniel Denz, West Seneca PD (NYSACOP Traffic Safety Services Coordinator), Chief (ret.) Michael Geraci, Schenectady PD (NYSACOP TSOL), Director, Training & Administration (ret.) Frank Galerie, NYS Attorney General’s Office (NYSACOP GTSC LEL), Assistant Chief (ret.) William Georges, Albany PD (NYSACOP TSOL & TSC Chairman)

• Guests: No guests this meeting

• Approval of April 29, 2025 Committee Meeting Minutes:

1st:      Chief Worden
2nd:     Chief Spaulding

• Updates/Status on Previous Agenda Topics/Events:
• NYS TAP Committee/DRE Issues:

NYSACOP LEL Galerie stated nothing new to report.

• Legislative Update (Deadly Driving Bill & NYS Senate #3662):

Chairman Georges reported that ADA Maureen McCormick continues to tirelessly lobby for the Deadly Driving Bill, and he will update TSC if/when the progress of the bill changes. He also reported that bill #S3662 appears to have lost all traction and will no longer be advanced for further consideration.

Chairman Georges asked Inspector Regina to update the TSC members on the SCPD Streets Task Force, their engagement efforts using the Suffolk County ordinance which prohibits street racing, and the corresponding ordinance sanctions. Inspector Regina stated the Task Force has been a great success and that he will forward an updated copy of the Suffolk County ordinance to the TSC.

• Warning Tickets Update:

Chairman Georges asked Inspector Regina to update the TSC members on the roll-out of the SCPD Warning Ticket Pilot Program. Inspector Regina reported that the program will begin in SCPD Precinct 5. The warning tickets are generated by, and the corresponding data retained on, an in- house software system. The data is being made public via a link on the SCPD website. He will continue to update the TSC on the progress of the pilot program in the future.

Chairman Georges polled the TSC members on their desire to continue with the plan to draft a letter requesting the NYSP consider developing a warning ticket program within the TraCS system and have the letter approved by the NYSACOP Board of Governors for delivery to the NYSP Administration. All TSC members unanimously agreed to move forward with the plan.

• Traffic Safety Engagement and Crash Data Review:

Director Tantalo reported on the Monroe County Traffic Safety Team. He stated they identified a high traffic neighborhood comprised of residences, schools, and a hospital, where a large number of citizen complaints have been received regarding pedestrian interaction with vehicle traffic. Although crash data did not specifically delineate a “hot spot”, due to the high volume of complaints, they are in the process of conducting significant community outreach in that location.

• Outreach to Regional Chiefs of Police Associations & Major City Chiefs: 

Chairman Georges briefed the TSC members on the NYSACOP Zone 10 Traffic Safety Point of Contact in-person meeting scheduled for June 5, 2025 in Cheektowaga, N.Y.

TSSC Denz reported that in June he will be conducting a Traffic Safety/GTSC briefing at the Erie County Chiefs, WNY Chiefs and joint meeting of the Nassau/Suffolk Chiefs respective regional associations.

• GTSC Update/Issues: 

NYSACOP LEL Galerie relayed that warning ticket data should be reported in the GTSC grant progress reports and used in future grant applications.

NYSACOP LEL Galerie updated the TSC members on his new role assisting GTSC with Cannabis Impaired Driver trainings and also the GTSC 405i grant funded project regarding training officers how to conduct traffic stops.

Chairman Georges reported that the relationship between NYSACOP and GTSC continues to remains good and the NYSACOP TS Team anticipates approval of NYSACOP’s FY26 GTSC grant application.

• NYS Law Enforcement Recognition Awards, Albany Capital Center, April 30, 2025:

TSSC Denz and Inspector Regina jointly reported that they attended the event and on how well it was organized and delivered. Each stated that the award winners expressed strong positive feedback about the event.

• Other:

Chairman Georges asked Chief Spaulding to update the TSC members on a DWI case involving a foreign national and a language translation issue, which she had reported on at the April TSC meeting. Chief Spaulding reported that the DA’s office dismissed the case and afterwards, she had discussions with the DA as to how cases of this type should be handled going forward. She said they are developing a plan whereby her agency is going to secure a contract with an outside language translation firm to provide services to the department, and she thanked the other TSC members for their guidance in doing so.

Commissioner Jackson added that although he contracts and funds the language translation services for his agency, he also allows the court the use services as well. This provides the court assistance in processing cases involving arrestees and victims who struggle with language barriers. He said this has had very positive results for both his agency and the court, from arrest, through prosecution, to sentencing.

• Upcoming Events:

• NYSACOP Annual Conference, The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark, Monticello, N.Y., July 13-16, 2025:

Chairman Georges updated the TSC members on the progress with the planning of this event and polled them to see who will be attending. All TSC members stated they planned on attending the event.

• IACP Impaired Driving & Traffic Safety Conference, August 4-6, 2025, McCormick Place, Chicago, IL:

Chairman Georges advised the TSC that members of the NYSACOP Traffic Safety Team are planning on attending this event, and they may also be able to sponsor an officer from a NYSACOP member agency to attend. More information to follow.

• DCJS Public Safety Symposium, Empire State Plaza Convention Center, Albany, N.Y., September 16-18, 2025:

Chairman Georges updated the TSC on this event.

• New York State Highway Safety Symposium, Lake Ontario Event & Conference Center, Oswego, N.Y., October 14-17, 2025:

Chairman Georges updated the TSC on this event and reminded them the NYSACOP Traffic Safety Team will be conducting a presentation there.

• New Business:

• Traffic Safety Activities and Training Courses:

Chairman Georges reminded the TSC of the enforcement initiatives of the 2025 Buckle Up New York Click It or Ticket (BUNY/CIOT), May 19-June 1, 2025, and the two Speed Weeks occurring June 9-15, 2025 and August 4 – 10, 2025.

Chairman Georges reviewed the list of currently posted traffic safety training opportunities.

TSSC Denz thanked Director Tantalo for his assistance with setting up a Law Enforcement e-Bike Awareness course in Monroe County tentatively set for July 24, 2025. TSSC Denz will distribute the course announcement once it has been issued by GTSC.

• Other:

Director Tantalo briefed the TSC members on a Monroe County STOP DWI awareness event held at Innovated Field during a Rochester Red Wings AAA baseball game. He also advised the TSC on a potential enforcement initiative in Monroe and Onondaga Counties involving automated camera systems provided by a vendor named Let’s Drive Safer. The pilot program will involve placing cameras at stop signs and pedestrian crosswalks to capture VTL violators. The captured violations will be reviewed by police officers for enforcement action. This initiative needs NYS legislative approval prior to implementation. Director Tantalo will keep the TSC posted on the progress of the program.

Chairman Georges reviewed a news article published in the Baltimore Sun regarding a City of Baltimore program involving automated cameras mounted on school buses in that area. This was followed by an in-depth discussion amongst the TSC members regarding their experiences and insights on automated camera initiatives within their respective jurisdictions.

Chief Spaulding asked the TSC members how she could attain reports delineating UTT Dispositions. The TSC members suggested several alternatives, of which Chief Spaulding said she will explore.

• Follow-up Activities/Assignments:
• TSC Meetings with Traffic Safety Partners/Guests:

Chairman Georges advised the TSC members that he was exploring the possibility of inviting TSRB Beth Solek to be a guest at an upcoming TSC meeting. All were in favor of extending the invitation.

• Topics for “Intersections” , podcasts, etc., including guest contributors:

Chairman Georges informed the TSC members that he authored an “Intersections” article for the June issue of the Chief’s Chronicle. He encouraged the TSC to contribute, or perhaps invite a guest author to submit an article, in the future.

• Other:

Nothing to report.

• Next Meeting:

• Motion to Adjourn:

1st:     Chief Spaulding
2nd:    Inspector Regina