MIDDLETOWN, CT. (WFSB) – Attention drivers, a new form of speed enforcement is coming to Middletown.
They now become the first city in the state to install speed and red-light cameras to try and cut down on dangerous driving.
“I’m so happy it’s getting done. Obviously this is a school zone. We have some of America’s most precious people over here. We need to be taking care of them,” said Kaden Powers, an employee of Spencer Elementary School.
“That’s absolutely ridiculous. I’m from the Bronx and I literally moved away because those speed cameras,” said Symphony Winborne, Middletown.
Washington and Marlborough have also implemented the cameras.
One camera will be put on Washington Street, where drivers have been clocked going as high as 70 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour zone.
Another will be installed on Westfield Street, where Spencer Elementary School is.
A third will be placed on Country Club Road, where there is a sharp turn by Highby Road and Knox Boulevard. Mooney Elementary School is also near the area.
“I have lost people from car accidents. God forbid a student is hurt. That would be the worst thing in the world. I don’t wanna ever see that happen,” continued Powers.
He hopes that the cameras will make people slow down, especially when so many young kids are walking around.
“If it’s in the school zone, then of course we want to keep our kids safe, but just to put it in the middle of all this,” continued Winborne. “So much traffic moving back-and-forth it’s going to be impossible.”
She’s afraid that they might cause more accidents with people slowing down to prevent getting a ticket.
“They see these cameras they stopped early and then all of a sudden you’re reducing the likelihood of a fatal accident, but you’re encouraging the likelihood of someone stopping to see and getting rear-ended,” said Dr. Kimberly Przeszlowski, an assistant professor of criminal justice at Quinnipiac University.
She stated that as long as the locations of the cameras are data driven and police departments are transparent about whether serious injury crashes or fatalities are down, the technology is doing its job.
They will also be used to catch people running red lights.
First time offenders will be hit with a $50 fee.
After that, the violation goes up to $75, and violators will also likely get an additional processing fee of $15.
The tickets will be mailed to the address on the car’s registration.
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