Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Traffic Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Norwalk launches summer slowdown enforcement; police to use speed-and-aggressive-driving grant
Summary
Police reported a summer slowdown initiative targeting speed and aggressive driving around Norwalk, citing June traffic enforcement numbers and a state grant that will fund additional shift hires from July 1 through Sept. 5.
Norwalk police described a citywide "summer slowdown" traffic enforcement initiative at the July 21 Board of Police Commissioners meeting and told commissioners a state speed-and-aggressive-driving grant will fund additional patrol shifts over the summer. Deputy Chief Lepore said the grant runs July 1 through Sept. 5 and "allows us to give 106 eight-hour shift hires for officers to focus in on speed and aggressive driving."
Chief Walsh and operations leaders presented June traffic figures in successive reports. In his executive report, the chief said the department recorded 1,268 total traffic stops in June with 1,187 citations issued and 13 criminal arrests stemming from those interactions. The community affairs report separately listed 1,360 motor vehicle stops for June and described 62 parking violations, seven child-safety-seat installations, four DUI arrests and 121 cell-phone violations related to distracted driving enforcement.
Deputy Chief Blake told commissioners the traffic enforcement focus includes intersection enforcement such as East Avenue and I-95 and that some stop-sign and intersection enforcement increases came from both targeted enforcement and grant-supported activities. He said second platoon remains the busiest patrol shift and that the department recorded 6,912 calls for service in June.
Commissioners asked whether the enforcement increases were grant-driven or department-initiated. Deputy Chief Blake said the activity was a combination: some enforcement was a direct response to traffic patterns identified in the department’s traffic database, and some was supported by grants. Deputy Chief Lepore said preliminary awards were also received for other grants, including a preliminary Project Safe Neighborhoods award awaiting formal confirmation.
The commission was advised that the enforcement push accompanies other summer public-safety efforts — including school security assignments, special event support for July 4 celebrations and mutual aid to neighboring communities — and that enforcement numbers can fluctuate with staffing, vacations and unplanned absences.
