Divided council hears case for school‑zone speed cameras; chief calls cameras a 'force multiplier' — no vote

The Town Council heard an extended presentation and debate May 11 about whether to deploy automated speed‑enforcement cameras in school zones.

Police data: Chief Moynihan presented results of a targeted traffic study (Kersey Road among locations cited) that captured thousands of speed exceedances at an 11‑mph‑over threshold during school hours in short intervals. He said the state statute authorizes automated speed enforcement in school zones during the 180‑day school calendar, that devices typically begin with a 30‑day warning period and that fines (summonses mailed to registered owners) are set at $50. Moynihan called cameras "a force multiplier," saying they provide continuous enforcement coverage that complements but does not replace officer presence.

Concerns and alternatives: Council members raised concerns about civil‑liberties implications, appeal burdens on municipal court, the statutory limit to school days (not year‑round), and whether cameras would change the character of town streets. Members asked staff to quantify fiscal impacts (collection, processing, municipal‑court burden) and to research how other Rhode Island municipalities have implemented cameras and the empirical effects on speed and appeals. Several members urged exhausting lower‑cost or nonautomated options first — targeted enforcement details, marked parked squad cars, signage improvements, expanded traffic enforcement overtime and capital solutions such as sidewalks and crosswalk upgrades tied to grant applications.

Outcome: No vote was taken. Council directed staff to provide comparative data, fiscal impacts, and examples from nearby towns, and to return with a menu of alternatives and cost estimates so the council can consider narrower or pilot implementations.

Source: Chief presentation and council discussion during the May 11 meeting.