Traffic Enforcement Needed

To the Editor:

I read with interest the letters on traffic enforcement in Newtown. I would like to add the following to this subject. First of all, Newtown has some 40 or so police officers in the department. The notion that they should be concentrating on high crime and significantly ignore traffic enforcement is ridiculous.

I, for one, want our police out on the road enforcing traffic laws. Most high crime, and violent crime, in particular, are crimes of passion and cannot be prevented by police anyway. In a survey taken in Newtown, I believe in 2006, the overwhelming concern of citizens was traffic problems, predominantly speeding.

One of First Selectman Joe Borst’s campaign promises was to address this issue. He has done so by directing Chief of Police Kehoe to step up efforts to address these concerns. This is one promise by Mr Borst that has not been voted down at selectmen meetings. Also, Newtown police do not issue tickets for traveling a “few” miles per hour over the posted limit, nor do they ticket for a minor slow roll through a stop sign. Most speeding tickets are the results of travel of 10 to 15 mph or more over the limit.

I personally drive all over Newtown streets, and speeding, tailgating, and other dangerous violations are a common occurrence on a daily basis. For these reasons, I believe enhanced traffic enforcement is police manpower well spent. The sooner the word gets out that Newtown is not the town to speed in, the better.

As far as the technical advantages of newer cars stopping and handling better, I see this as building complacency and a false sense of security while driving. I do not care how well your vehicle stops, if you travel too far above the speed limit, you will not stop in time for a child or pet exiting a driveway or property on a bad curve.

If you really read the police reports in The Bee each week, you would be aware that a great many routine stops result in arrests for a variety of offences. Driving with suspended or revoked license, illegal weapons in car, drugs and drug paraphernalia, outstanding police warrants, to list a few. So traffic enforcement goes a lot deeper that the puddle these people are looking into.

I am also thankful for the Newtown police presence on my 15 mph road, several times since the enhanced enforcement, as drivers routinely travel 30, 35, and even 40 mph on this treacherous section of road. Tractor trailers and other large vehicles traveling 40 and 50 mph has to stop on Main Street from the Ambulance Corps building to pass police headquarters should they catch a green light.

To the Newtown police, keep up the good work on this issue and get the reputation for our town that if you choose to travel in Newtown, you better not speed.

Thomas Catalina

59 Butterfield Road, Newtown                                          July 1, 2008