Police Formulating Traffic Enforcement Tactics

By Andrew Gorosko

Town police are forming plans for their expanded traffic enforcement program, which is expected to start in March, in response to continuing public calls for the stricter enforcement of traffic violations.

Police Chief Michael Kehoe said this week that the heightened traffic enforcement program is expected “to start within a few weeks.” Police have exchanged ideas among themselves on how best to approach the enforcement program, he said.

Earlier this month, Police Commission members, at the police chief’s request, approved a budget transfer that makes available $20,000 in funds targeted for heightened traffic law enforcement. That sum would provide traffic enforcement equaling about 52 eight-hour work shifts.

Chief Kehoe said the $20,000 in police overtime represents only part of the traffic enforcement program.

Last week, one patrol officer was seen at the wheel of an unmarked police car in the town center waiting for motor vehicle violations to occur, after which he would pull over the errant motorists unaccustomed to being stopped by police in an unmarked vehicle.

Chief Kehoe explained that the policeman in the unmarked car was part of the police department’s provisional traffic enforcement unit, which has been targeting traffic violations during the past several months. That provisional unit is expected to become a formal traffic enforcement unit when police staffing levels increase.

Chief Kehoe noted that Newtown police also participate in a tri-town traffic squad with police from Bethel and Redding, which visits each of the three towns periodically for special enforcement projects. Also, town police use a motorcycle officer for traffic enforcement duty when weather conditions permit, the police chief said. Additionally, the police department has an officer who specializes in enforcing commercial truck regulations.

As the weather improves in the coming weeks, the motorcycle patrol will return to the streets, Chief Kehoe said.

The specific traffic enforcement actions that police take against motorists will be publicized, he said.

The traffic enforcement project will focus on violations involving speeding, drunken driving, traffic signals, stops signs, and crosswalks.

“I dislike the discourtesy. People are in a hurry…They’re not paying attention,” Chief Kehoe said of the circumstances under which traffic violations often occur. He added that the enforcement project will occur across town, not only in certain locations.

Although enforcement tactics are being formulated to guide police in issuing traffic violations, police officers also will be allowed discretion in how best to approach the task, he said.

“We’re going to be out there…visible…proactive,” he said.

Police Captain Joe Rios said, “Right now, there’s a lot of different [enforcement] options on the table.”

Marked cars and unmarked cars could be used, he said. Daytime and nighttime enforcement could be employed, he added. Also, the morning and evening commuter rush periods may have heightened enforcement, he said.

“We may be out there at unexpected times, unexpected places,” he said. Specific enforcement projects may involve multiple police officers, the captain added.

“Motorists need to be responsible for their own actions…Obeying the law starts with each individual,” he said.

A byproduct of heightened traffic enforcement may involve charging some motorists who violate traffic laws with other offenses, such as crimes listed in arrest warrants that are pending against those motorists, Capt Rios said.

Last October, the Police Commission endorsed a planning document that states a town traffic enforcement strategy. 

The traffic enforcement strategy’s main goals are to reduce the number and severity of traffic accidents, cut traffic congestion, reduce aggressive driving, and control speeding. By making local roadways safer, police would seek to increase the local quality of life.

During the past several years, residents’ concerns about traffic problems in the town center, and especially along Queen Street, have been a focus of much Police Commission attention. The town commissioned the recent Queen Street Area Traffic Improvement Plan to address those issues.