Red-Light Camera Proposal Is Revived; Civil Liberties Group Again Opposes It

Public office-holders and citizen activists from New Haven again are pushing to get the Connecticut General Assembly to  legalize use of automated cameras to issue traffic tickets to red light violators at intersections.

The effort has failed in past years, most recently in 2011, but supporters re-launched it Monday at a press conference led by New Haven Mayor John DeStefano and state Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney, D-New Haven.

As in the past, the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut responded that it "remains steadfast in opposition to traffic light cameras."

Looney said in a press release: "Our friends and family don't need to become another statistic," said Senator Looney. "The use of red light cameras at intersections is critical for ensuring the safety of pedestrians and drivers. Knowing that if you run a red light you will receive a ticket in the mail will be a huge incentive for drivers to slow down and think twice about breaking the law.  It will free up police resources and save lives." Supporters said over the last 20 years, on average, more than 5,000 pedestrians are killed across the United States in motor vehicle-related accidents.

With the state legislative session set to begin next month, Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney gathered with Mayor John DeStefano, members of the New Haven delegation, members of the Board of Aldermen and safe streets advocates at the corner of South Frontage Road and York Street to launch a new push to pass legislation authorizing the use of red light cameras to catch dangerous drivers.

Nationally, according to the Federal Highway Commission, red-light running kills 1,000 people and injures 165,000 a year at a cost of $230 billion.   Over the last 20 years, on average, more than 5,000 pedestrians are killed across the United States in motor vehicle-related accidents.

"Our friends and family don't need to become another statistic," said Senator Looney. "The use of red light cameras at intersections is critical for ensuring the safety of pedestrians and drivers. Knowing that if you run a red light you will receive a ticket in the mail will be a huge incentive for drivers to slow down and think twice about breaking the law.  It will free up police resources and save lives."

New Haven has the highest percentage of residents who walk or bike to work. Tragedies involving pedestrians and cyclists often occur at intersections where traditional traffic enforcement is challenging.

Added Mayor DeStefano, "The fact is that red light cameras save lives, promote civil behavior, grow pedestrian and biker use and most importantly do all this while reserving our police officers time for more urgent citizen needs."

Legislators plan to raise a bill with language similar to a bill raised last session.  Under that proposal, municipalities with 60,000 or more residents would have been granted the right, through local ordinance, to install red light cameras at designated intersection.

The proposed billed required municipalities to install advance warning signs along all approaches of the roadways preceding the intersection at which an automated traffic enforcement safety device was located. The advance warning signs would notify motorists of the existence of the automated traffic enforcement safety device.