Electronic Eyes OK'd To Enforce West Hartford Traffic Laws

WEST HARTFORD, CT — It's official.

West Hartford will have traffic enforcement traffic cameras set up this fall and folks might end up being fined $50 to $75 depending on how many offenses.

Last month, the West Hartford Town Council conducted and closed a public hearing regarding an ordinance allowing for traffic cameras.

Members then approved an ordinance authorizing the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices with a 7-1 vote, with GOP Councilman Mark Zydanowicz the lone dissenter.

In January, the council said "yes" to financing the project, so approving the actual ordinance authorizing the use of cameras was not a surprise.

According to the January resolution, the cost of the program is $836,259 in total, with West Hartford already getting $669,007 through a Federal Highway Administration grant.

The remaining $167,252 — 20 percent of the project — will come from the current capital improvement budget.

"This ordinance is a proactive step toward promoting safer streets in West Hartford," West Hartford Town Manager Rick Ledwith said before the council's vote on April 8.

"Automated enforcement acts as a deterrent to dangerous driving behaviors that we know contribute to accidents, injuries, and fatalities."

He said research from other towns has shown a downturn in serious accidents after the cameras go up.

Town officials originally sought to have the cameras go up in July, but Ledwith said an implementation plan will go before the council in September.

That plan, Ledwith said, would be reviewed by council members.

The ordinance approved last month establishes a procedural framework for the town to implement the traffic enforcement camera program.

West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor said the public will be able to weigh in on that implementation plan later in the summer or early fall. "There will be other opportunities for public input as well," Cantor said.

Council members easily approved the ordinance, saying it is a positive step to reduce speeding, accidents, and the injuries/fatalities that can come with them.

"I do think this is a positive step forward in helping to reduce speeding and car accidents," Democratic councilperson Tiffani McGinnis said.

Republican Councilperson Mary Fay also approved the project. "I do know we have to do something. We absolutely, positively have to," Fay said.

She said the ideal solution is for West Hartford police officers to handle this, but "they can't be everywhere, there are a lot of things they need to do," Fay said.

Fay said the program will be a pilot program and can be subject to revision and review once implemented, a key factor in her support.

"I am very pleased that this will be a pilot and that we can evaluate to make sure that it's doing what we intend to do and, surprise, surprise, I will be supporting this," Fay said.

Cantor said the ideal situation is no fines and safe driving, but that might be necessary to force the changes in driving habits to make for a safer West Hartford.

"We really do want a lasting culture of safety in our community," Cantor said.

The lone dissenter, Zydanowicz, did not comment on why he voted "no."

During the hearing, however, Zydanowicz did have several questions regarding the language of the traffic camera policy, especially regarding how such tickets could be appealed.

He also questioned whether this program is worth the cost.

"What's the return on investment? If this is supposed to eliminate a lot of speeding and a lot of red light tickets, are our costs going to overrun us on this, and we wouldn't have a return on our investment?" Zydanowicz said.

"This just might be another one of those things where our taxes are higher because, you know, we're a safer town."

The speed management program's initial phase is is expected to be 18 months and it will involve cameras going up at 15 locations around town.

This program is in line with West Hartford's push toward improved traffic and pedestrian safety, an initiative that began three years ago after multiple fatal accidents involving vehicles and pedestrians.

This led to the Vision Zero project, which aims to eliminate accidents/incidents causing serious injury or deaths in West Hartford, an initiative formally undertaken last year.

With an approved ordinance, the state Department of Transportation will rule on the plan, with the Federal Highway Administration weighing in afterward.

For the minutes of the April 8 West Hartford Town Council meeting, click on this link.

For the full traffic enforcement camera ordinance, click on this link.

From Jan. 23: 'West Hartford's Speed Enforcement Camera Plan Becomes Clearer'