Cops Crack Down on Speeders, Issue 75 tickets in 8 Days

If you've got a lead foot, you're going to pay a hefty fine.

That's the message from the Oxford Resident Trooper's Office, which has recently cracked down on local speeders, handing out 75 infractions and 30 written warnings for moving violations, especially speeding, on local streets since Dec. 1, said.

The ramped up efforts come on the heels of two serious car accidents within the past month involving Oxford High School students, including one who was listed in critical condition for the better part of last week at the Hospital of Saint Raphael's in New Haven. , 18, sustained major injuries and is now recovering at Gaylord Hospital, a rehabilitation facility in Wallingford, police said.

Officers using speed tracking devices have set up over the past week on Route 67, Route 188 and Route 34, as well as some other side streets, Semosky said. He said the increased enforcement will continue.

"We've been more visible and more proactive in catching speeders, and we will continue to do so," Semosky said.

Oxford Board of Education officials thanked Semosky and the Resident Trooper's Office for their efforts, as well as high school officials and interim Superintendent James A. Connelly for helping after last week's car accident involving Inzitari.             The troopers and school officials informed students of what happened, offered them counseling and set up a driver safety program for this Friday.

Connelly quipped at Tuesday's Board of Education meeting that several people have complained that he's the cause for their speeding tickets. But, in all seriousness, he's not apologizing.

He said Oxford has several winding roads with no shoulders making them hard to navigate, especially for young, inexperienced drivers. Therefore, he said, he's going to be cautious when considering school delays during times of inclement weather.

"If there is a question about safety, even if other schools do not have delays, I might call for a 90-minute delay just to be on the safe side," he said.