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O’Dea Pushes For Crackdown On Impaired Driving On Connecticut's Highways | CT News Junkie

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O’Dea Pushes For Crackdown On Impaired Driving On Connecticut's Highways | CT News Junkie


Rep. Tom O’Dea says he wants to see a crackdown on smoking and drinking on Connecticut’s highways during a Transportation Committee public hearing at the Connecticut State Capitol on Feb. 26, 2025. Credit: Mia Palazzo / CTNewsJunkie

HARTFORD, CT – State Rep. Tom O’Dea, R-New Canaan, is urging lawmakers to crack down on smoking and drinking on Connecticut highways, calling for stricter enforcement of impaired driving laws during a public hearing Wednesday on Senate Bill 1375, a comprehensive road safety bill.

The bill, titled An Act Concerning Highway, Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety, includes several measures to reduce roadway hazards. Among its provisions is a ban on open alcoholic beverage containers in the passenger compartment of motor vehicles, bringing Connecticut in line with federal standards under 23 USC 154. 

Failure to comply has cost the state nearly $189 million in federal funding reallocations since 2001, according to testimony from Transportation Commissioner Garrett T. Eucalitto.

“Connecticut is one of 12 states without an open container law,” Eucalitto said. “Not every crash is tested for blood alcohol level, and if we had more information, we could implement more targeted safety measures.”

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While the bill targets alcohol, O’Dea took aim at cannabis users, citing the 2021 law legalizing recreational cannabis while also prohibiting police from using the odor of marijuana as probable cause for a vehicle search. 

“That to me, commissioner, is outrageous,” O’Dea said. “Nobody on planet Earth has ever gotten intoxicated because someone in the passenger seat has drank a beer, but if you’re bellowing out of a car like Cheech and Chong, that secondary smoke is getting you high.”

O’Dea pointed to report from Utah stating that fatalities had increased after state law was changed to lower the maximum legal blood-alcohol content to 0.05%. He said that over the next 16 years there were 35 fatalities involving BAC levels between 0.05% and0.07%. 

“Two-thirds of those fatalities also involved drugs and excessive speed,” O’Dea said.

Eucalitto acknowledged data gaps.

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“The presence of drugs doesn’t indicate impairment,” he said. “This is the problem with trying to discuss this issue. We don’t have all the information we need.”

Section 5 of the bill seeks to address those gaps by prohibiting open containers and strengthing enforcement measures. O’Dea remains adamant that cannabis enforcement must also be prioritized.

“Let’s get rid of the pot in the cars. Let’s increase enforcement … Let’s do more things that will stop the problem we have now,” O’Dea said.






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Two people shot in New Haven restaurant Saturday evening

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Two people shot in New Haven restaurant Saturday evening


New Haven police say two people were shot at a restaurant on Grand Avenue Saturday evening.

One of the victims was a 22-year-old male from East Haven who was shot in the leg and was transported to Yale New Haven Hospital for treatment.

According to police, the second victim was a 17-year-old male and arrived shortly after.

While on scene, police confirmed one of the possible shooters was still inside the restaurant.

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According to police, the victims were both inside the restaurant when the teen was approached by Naguea Bratton and another suspect.

They say a fight occurred which resulted in both victims being shot.

Police detained Bratton who was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, two counts of illegal possession of a high-capacity magazine and larceny of a motor vehicle.

Bratton is being held on a $200,000 bond.

Both victims have non-life-threatening injuries police say.

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They say additional arrests are expected to be completed by warrant.



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27 Wrestlers Named State Open Wrestling Champions In Connecticut Over Weekend; Xavier Dominates Tournament

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27 Wrestlers Named State Open Wrestling Champions In Connecticut Over Weekend; Xavier Dominates Tournament


Over the weekend, the two-day CIAC State Open wrestling championships took place at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven, Connecticut. 

Twenty-seven wrestlers (14 boys, 13 girls) were named champions in their respective weight classes, displaying intense wrestling featuring the best wrestlers across the state. 

Championship bouts started around 4:15 p.m. on Saturday and lasted about two hours. 

Below are the results from both the boys’ and girls’ state open championships. 

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106 lbs.: Xavier’s Josh Perez def. Stafford’s John Bean 17-2 (technical fall)

113 lbs.: Ridgefield’s Cole Desiano def. Suffield/Windsor Locks’ Peter Annis 8-0 (decision)

120 lbs.: Xavier’s Zack Dixon def. Somers’ Will Acorsi 12-0 (majority decision) 

126 lbs.: Windham’s Delmazio Despard def. Xavier’s Alexander Depratti 4-3 (decision) 

132 lbs.: Fairfield Warde’s Jude Grammatico def. Xavier’s Zaphyr Musshorn 2-1 (decision) 

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138 lbs.: Ledyard’s Lukas Boxley def. Terryville’s Ethan Bochman Rodriguez (pin)

144 lbs.: Xavier’s Braylon Gonzalez def. Ridgefield’s John Carrozza 3-1 (decision)

150 lbs.: Bristol Central’s Alex Lamarre def. Middletown’s Isaiah McDaniel 1-0 (decision)

157 lbs.: Newtown’s Antonio Arguello def. Notre Dame-West Haven’s Riley Storozuk 8-4 (decision)

165 lbs.: Gilbert/Torrington/Wolcott def. Trumbull’s Hubert Szymko 2-0 (decision)

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175 lbs.: Xavier’s Vincent Rivera def. Fairfield Prep’s Jack Lilly 14-10 (decision)

190 lbs.: Xavier’s Chase Catalano def. Fairfield Warde’s Dylan O’Brien 2-1 (decision)

215 lbs.: Lyme-Old Lyme’s Taiyo Gemme def. Staples’ Julian Rousseau (pin) 

285 lbs.: Shelton’s Chase Galke def. Ellington’s Jacob Palermo 3-0 (decision)

100 lbs.: South Windsor’s Sophia Gordon def. West Haven’s Isha Khanna (pin)

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107 lbs.: RHAM’s Brooke Heffernan def. New Milford’s Clara Reynolds 9-2 (decision)

114 lbs.: Branford’s Ava Gambardella def. Jonathan Law’s Selena Batres 6-0 (decision)

120 lbs.: Trumbull’s Jillian Blake def. Fairfield Warde’s Monica Flores Romero 17-1 (technical fall)

126 lbs.: Ellis Tech’s Adelina Tate def. Fairfield Ludlowe’s Ashlynn Cummings (pin)

132 lbs: Amity’s Eliana Selaris def. Daniel Hand’s Evely Lavigne (pin)

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138 lbs.: Stratford’s Winner Tshibombi def. Greenwich’s Gaby Aliaga 22-8 (majority decision)

145 lbs.: Stratford’s Gabriella Kiely def. New Milford’s Josephina Piel (pin)

152 lbs: Bunnell’s Matilda Tote def. Shelton’s Ella Piccirillo (pin)

165 lbs: Trumbull ‘s Marangelie Teixeira def. New Britain’s Kaydence Atkinson (pin)

185 lbs.: Platt’s Kayli Morris def. Bristol Central’s Shyann Bryan (pin)

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235 lbs.: Norwalk’s Jeily Euceda def. Maloney’s Arianna Bellamy (pin)

Xavier High School (Middletown, CT) has been the most dominant wrestling program in the state in recent memory. Once again, they stole the show in the state opens, winning its fifth-straight state open title.

The Falcons had seven wrestlers compete out of the 14 state open titles in the boys’ division and had five winners with two runner-ups. As a team, they totaled 218.5 points, which was 72 more points than any other team.



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Pedestrian killed after being struck by Amtrak train

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Pedestrian killed after being struck by Amtrak train


An investigation is ongoing in Stonington after a person was fatally struck by an Amtrak train Saturday morning, according to Stonington police.

Police were notified around 11:25 a.m. by Amtrak police that a pedestrian was struck by a train between the Route 1 overpass and the Prospect Street and Palmer Street railroad crossing.

When crews arrived, they pronounced the victim dead at the scene.

The train involved is stopped while Amtrak police conduct their investigation and ask the public to avoid the area at this time.

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Authorities say there is no threat to the public.

No further details were released.



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