The introduction of speed cams in one state may terrify drivers. There is a $50 initial penalty fee as a first warning to drivers in the state who exceed the speed limit. The town of Washington in the state of Connecticuit saw citizens receiving notifications of this new program via mail. The change details an entirely new speed camera program which has certainly already issued many fines to curb all cases of reckless driving and to fine dangerous drivers in the state.
The onset of many speeding fines within 60 Days
A small town in Connecticut called Washington has launched a camera related speed program back in June this year. According to local officials, the new camera program would somewhat deter dangerous drivers from driving wrecklessly. The program, however, has outlined how much speeding is a problem in the town and that too within just 60 days.
The cameras located on Old Litchfield Road and on Route 109 accumulated $21,000 in speeding tickets at first and after 60 days, an accumulated $335,000 in fines were generated. As per the program, cameras could snap pictures of vehicles violating the speeding law with a $50 warning being issued for all first-time offenders.
According to the First Selectman, Jim Brinton, speeding is clearly still a concern in the little town. The program itself and the camera positioning has been outlined by the town of Washington.
Speeing, still a problem in Washington
While the camera reflects a change in behavior of drivers, there are still drivers driving at 10 to 15 mph over range or even 20 to 25 mph over the speed limit. There are over hundred of tickets issued to offenders and this just proves how the message of reducing speed has not reached all the town’s citizens. The speed camera works 24/7 thus making the possibility of tracking offender vehicles and drivers a reality.
The $50 warning penalty is a mere courtesy warning to all drivers who repeatedly chose to violate speeding laws with the state issuing a clear message that if speeding does not stop in the town, a more hefty fine will be charged.
Is Washington the only town with this speeding problem?
Washington is not the only town facing new traffic enforcement laws. This is due to the fact that nearby Middletown and municipalities are facing a similar program as per the Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Device (ATESD) initiative by the state. Such cameras and driving safety programs are meant to install safety cameras in areas close to schools or in areas where crashes commonly occurs.
The reason Washinton Town has become so interesting is because of how many speeding fines have been issued in such a short span of time. While citizens and visitors to the state see the new automated speeding law as an expensive trap, local officials in the town in the state are certain that this is the right law. Automated systems are surely a way to curb accidents from occuring. Colorado too has introduced speeding cams for bad drivers.
Connecticut keen on reducing speeding
New red-light cameras are being put in place in many states. Putting speed cameras in this town is part of the national trend to ensure traffic enforcement, more so in regions where police forces are unable to keep track of speeding issues. Another reason as to why speeding cameras are preferred to police officers tracking speeding offenders is that there is no bias in terms of who gets speeding fines. The camera initiative is merely in place to save lives.
There are critics who are question whether the system is just. Issues such as the reliability of the camera technology has been brought to the fore. Despite the criticism, the Town of Washington ATESD Speed Camera Municipal Plan is in place and drivers will need to take heed of these cameras since the roads are being watched. The $50 warning fee is the first starting point to charge driving habits of those drivers who continue speeding while the new rule is already in place.
