Connecticut State Police are searching for a driver who they say repeatedly switches license plates and cars and drives recklessly through Washington and New Milford.

The driver travels westbound on Route 109 every day around 6:45 a.m., police said.

While passing from Washington to New Milford, the driver is seen operating in a “reckless manner” and passing cars and school buses, according to a Facebook post from the Washington Resident Trooper Office.

Troopers tried to stop the driver on Route 8, but the person sped away so fast that police ended the chase, police said.

The two vehicles that police say the person drives are a green Subaru Legacy with Florida license plate 61931X and a red Jeep with an unknown New York license plate and plastic on the driver’s side window. Photos of the vehicles were shared in the Facebook post.

Police said they believe the driver works somewhere in New Milford.

Anyone with information should contact the Connecticut State Police.

Is your car taking a little longer to start or not starting at all? The cold weather may be a major reason.

“The cold air always affects everything,” Aquaysha Johnson of New Haven said.

Everything that involves using your car. For drivers in Hamden, the recent freezing cold spell is doing a number on their vehicles.

“It seems like the battery, the gas, it’s always something,” she said.

Something electric car drivers are dealing with, especially when it comes to their batteries. One driver says his car batteries aren’t working as well, making it harder when he’s out and about.

“You can notice it for sure. You can notice the range drop. Even your car will tell you its range is 20 to 30 miles less than normal,” Pedram Motevalli of Hamden said.

AAA says it’s seeing more battery issues for drivers in Connecticut.  Last week, there were 8,000 roadside assistance calls, with 3,000 for battery issues. AAA says that’s a 50% jump from the week before.

“It’s a lot of calls for jumpstart, lockout, tow, RV extraction,” Jose Alvarez, a tow truck driver, said.

He responds to AAA calls and has seen the uptick firsthand.

“Probably in the three weeks before, we got a lot of jumpstarts,” Alvarez said.

AAA says to keep your car battery in the best shape, park in garages away from the elements if possible, and keep terminals clean.  It also says electric cars should have their batteries preconditioned while plugged in to charge. Drivers say they’ll do whatever they can to weather this latest cold spell.

“Do whatever you can. Wrap up tight. It’s way too much,” Johnson said.

AAA says if you do have an old battery that’s close to needing to be replaced, it may be a good idea to get it done sooner or later, with the cold temps sticking around for a bit.

MANCHESTER, CT (WFSB) – Connecticut celebrated Groundhog Day on Monday as Chuckles the groundhog made her annual weather prediction at the Lutz Children’s Museum.

Dozens of people were at the museum as early as 6 a.m., excited to see Chuckles make her prediction.

Chuckles saw her shadow, which means 6 more weeks of winter, according to Manchester Mayor Moran.

Traditionally, if Chuckles sees his/her shadow, that means six more weeks of winter. If they don’t, Connecticut would be in for an early spring.

The museum said it has been putting on the event since 1968.

This year’s Chuckles, “Chuckles the 11th,” wasn’t the only one in the building.

“Last year, the other Chuckles made an appearance, our male,” said MacKenzie Watkins, animal curator at the Lutz Museum. “Then this year, our female Chuckles [had] the spotlight.”

Spots for the event filled up ahead of time. The museum put up its own livestream of the prediction on its Facebook page here.

Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog from Punxsutawney, PA, also made his prediction around 7:25 a.m. He too forecasted 6 more weeks of winter.

Not to be outdone, Scramble the Duck in Eastford, which boasts 100 percent accuracy, also predicted more winter.

Copyright 2026 WFSB. All rights reserved.