The City of Groton is looking at speed cameras.

November 24, 2024 2:00 pm • Last updated November 23, 2024 2:13 am

Groton. The City of Groton is exploring the possibility of installing speed cameras to improve road safety.

City Police Chief David Burton said the city is committed to reducing crashes and changing driver behavior to make roads safer.

Public Law 23-116 allows cities and towns to install speed and red light cameras if they approve the ordinance and then the state Department of Transportation approves the plan.

State Department of Transportation spokeswoman Samaya Hernandez said there are currently no approved plans to use automated safety devices to control traffic.

She said Washington and Stamford have submitted plans for review.

The city of Groton is proposing an ordinance to allow the use of automatic traffic safety devices, which Burton said is the first step toward making speed cameras an option.

He said additional approval steps are needed for the city to have a discussion.

The DOT would need to approve the ordinance, and the city would have to collect data including traffic volume, crash rates and enforcement levels to determine which roads are suitable for cameras, he said.

The location of any potential cameras would be determined at the Department of Transportation’s discretion based on available data, he said.

The city’s proposed ordinance would allow the devices to detect both drivers 10 miles or more over the speed limit and drivers who fail to stop at red lights, but Burton said the city is now just looking at speed monitoring devices.

The ruling states that whenever a device records an image of a suspected violation, the police department will then review the image. If police determine there are “reasonable grounds to believe that an offense has occurred,” a notice will be sent to the vehicle owner, including a fine.

Burton said the state stipulates that drivers will receive a warning for a first offense, followed by a $50 fine for a second offense, and then a $75 fine for third and subsequent offenses.

The resolution outlines the process by which people can appeal the fine.

The City Council on Monday approved a resolution initially approving the ordinance.

A second public hearing is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 in the municipal building’s council chambers, after which the council is expected to take a final vote on the ordinance, Mayor Keith Hedrick said.

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