Submitted by Brian Raabe
Speeding and the Law
The big animal pictures around speeding cameras in school zones are:
Residents were speeding around schools as evidenced by the 4,341 violations during the 30-day warning phase prior to speed cameras going live at North Street School.
Post cameras being switched on?
Violations fell 90% to 107 citations at the same spot.
Cameras have proven effective.
To quote –
“Speaking for myself, if you’re realized a 90% reduction in some of these places where you’ve installed these cameras, that says it all right there,” BOE chair, Dr. Michael-Joseph Mercanti-Anthony said. “I’d love to see them all across town. I think this is vitally important for the safety of our kids.”
Despite the facts, some residents are experiencing incontinence over being fined for breaking the law, circulating a petition that read:
“Greenwich deserves safer roads through smart, fair enforcement – not reliance on automated systems that raise more questions than answers. Sign if you want better protection for kids and pedestrians without unnecessary fines or surveillance.”
Hmmm, seems prudent to refer the petitions author back the 4,300 speeding violations at a single school in town.
Honor system not working my man. You want smart and fair?
Speed – get a fine. Speed again, get another fine.
We can do this all day.
Smart. Fair.
This isn’t metaphysics. Your petition is really calling out reliance on automated speed camera systems as being fraught?
It is 2026. It’s not a DNA test; it’s a speed camera.
There are no alternative facts.
We seem to have moved to a place as a society where if one is willing to bloviate loud enough and long enough and complain about big brother and the nanny state with a high enough pitch they may “beat the rap,” “secure a pardon,” and expunge all wrongdoing from the record.
We have seen a spinless response from both sides of the aisle on the matter, with one Democrat saying:
“I am supportive of traffic safety initiatives in town, but I was not involved in the decision to install the speed cameras in town. Those votes were taken prior to my term on the Board of Selectmen.
I am a firm believer in following proper process and I am confident that the town will take the necessary steps to ensure all obligations are met. I will do my part to make sure that happens and to keep the public updated.”
That’s some super thin soup. “Updates” and “obligations.”
I think you meant to say “I will get the cameras turned back on without delay.”
And one Republican saying:
“It is something we are taking seriously and trying to understand – what to do about this – whether it’s education, whether its making any changes, whether it’s pausing it. Clearly it is the number one concern in town, along with traffic.”
What to do? Holy cow you get a B for Bolshevism and an A acting like this needs further study.
And ventriloquist of the month for saying nothing while your lips are moving.
And so, the cameras have been unplugged.
Something about due process and meetings – and a lot of hot air about how the cameras will come back.
One school. 4,300 speeders. Multiply that across town. Ask yourself how safe your kid is getting to and from class.
Both parties need to dig in and push back on the idea that this is something that can be addressed through voluntary compliance.
The data shows that a group of people do not care about traveling at speed past schools.
The data further shows that stopped with cameras installed.
Are there bugs to work out, sure.
But the “no reliance on automated systems that raise more questions than answers” contingent has won this round, and their victory comes with more dangerous school zones.
The data has spoken. The Chair of the Board of Ed has spoken. The First Selectman has spoken.
“The program will return once the proper process has been completed. This program is a needed step to protect pedestrian safety in school zones and I urge drivers to continue to use caution and slow down. Lives, especially of our youngest residents, are our main concern here.”
He will be held to that. In the interim how many police officers are posted along school routes right now?
As this theatre of the absurd plays out I hope the secondary and tertiary office holders having trouble finding their voice on the topic in both parties can muster up some courage.
If you speed, you get a ticket.
If you speed in a school zone you are a bad actor –
AND you get a ticket.
Simple.
Couldn’t this meeting April 20 have been an email?