We have spent a year working with the town to combat unsafe driving in the backcountry, namely, out of the area, speeding, and cut-through drivers who pose a serious safety threat to the backcountry. Our work has taken us to the Selectman’s office and the Department of Public Works.
Most recently we connected with Greenwich Police Department to better understand ways they can enforce speed limits and safe driving. I was provided the opportunity to do a “Police Ride- -Along”, to better understand how GPD might be a part of the equation. I drove around with Sergeant JD Smith, and he started by providing me with a bulletproof vest, a requirement for anyone on a Ride-A-Long.
We drove around a variety of backcountry roads, those which most RHA residents have flagged as most dangerous and impacted by cut-through and out-of-area drivers. We clocked radar in a handful of locations, and I pointed out to JD some of our tough spots to get his feedback and to put them on GPD’s radar. Here are a few things that I learned:
-Radar units have antenna’s that are positioned in the front and the back of cars and clock the closest vehicle driving in front, behind, and in an opposing lane to the police car, even while moving. While driving up Riversville, the Sergeant clocked a car, coming towards us, going approximately 51 MPH in a clearly posted 35 mph zone. The vehicle got pulled over and the operator received a written warning.
-The handheld Lidar (laser) units that you typically see Officers using for enforcement require Officers to visually observe a vehicle, acquire the vehicle in a sight lens and obtain a laser reading. Attempting to do all of this at moment’s notice, while a vehicle is rounding a corner towards you is logistically challenging at times. I had the opportunity to try this device myself.
– When conducting speed enforcement with a radar unit, the police need longer straightaways/lines of sight to clock speed. It is hard to get speeds on some of our more windy, curvy, and hilly roads. Also, notably Police vehicles have a difficult time trying to find a place to pull off roadside due to areas with small or no roadway shoulders. For radar to be used, the patrol car has to be parked parallel with the roadway.
– Police typically won’t pull over a car if the driver is going within 10 MPH of the speed limit. So, on our dangerous backcountry roads even though a car is driving 30 or 35 in a 25MPH zone, which seems fast to us, it is rarely reasonably fast enough for the police to pull a car over and issue a ticket. Typically Patrol Officers will begin to conduct motor vehicle stops at approximately 12 mph or more. The Traffic Section Enforcement Team dedicated to enforcement typically target vehicles traveling 15mph+ to combat aggressive driving.
Enforcement of speeding violations can result in verbal warnings, written warnings, infractions or even a misdemeanor summons with a court appearance if warranted. The decision to issue positive enforcement lies with the Officer and is dependent on many factors such as driver attitude, driver history, location of violation, pedestrian activity in the vicinity, etc.R
