Largest town in US held in contempt for producing just 17 of nearly 3K court-requested emails over school-bus cameras

A New York judge has held the largest town in the United States in contempt for disclosing only 17 of the nearly 3,000 emails requested amid a dispute concerning allegedly improperly issued school bus camera tickets.

Last week, State Supreme Court Justice Maureen McHugh Heitner ruled that the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, Long Island, showed “willful disobedience and resistance” by failing to produce the approximately 3,000 requested records.

The town had settled to release these records after entering an agreement in June with Brooklyn-based Aron Law PLLC, representing individuals accused of various violations. Nevertheless, Hempstead has only provided 17 emails so far, according to court documents.

Lead plaintiff attorney Joseph Aron stated, “Historically, that’s been our experience with the town.”

The controversy revolves around the use of footage from school buses to ticket drivers who do not appropriately stop for them. This initiative not only aims to enhance safety but also generates significant revenue, accumulating tens of millions of dollars.

The Aron Law firm initiated legal action against the town after Hempstead officials rejected their September 2024 Freedom of Information Law request for the emails stored on the town’s servers, specifically those containing the term “croce.”

The request pointedly focused on whether the town continued to issue violations for bus camera infractions despite the ruling in People v. Croce, where a 2023 Suffolk County decision overturned a driver’s conviction, asserting that school bus camera evidence alone does not suffice to prove guilt.

After the town dismissed Aron’s FOIL request as “overbroad,” he escalated the matter to the state supreme court, reaching an agreement with the town in June mandating the release of the records.

However, according to the judge, the town failed to uphold its agreement and did not provide the records as required.

Justice Heitner’s contempt ruling now compels the town to disclose the remaining more than 2,850 emails in full and without redactions within the next 60 days.

This ruling also ensures that Aron Law will be compensated for legal fees and damages, a determination the court will make in December.

On Wednesday, Town Attorney John Maccarone informed Newsday that he was unaware of the contempt ruling.

A representative for the town later acknowledged the ruling and assured that “the town will take steps to comply with the Judge’s order.”

The town emphasized that the case originated under former Supervisor Donald Clavin and that current Supervisor John Ferretti, appointed in August, has since directed the lawyers to release “all the emails.”