Behind A Rolling Ball

And Speeding Cars

To the Editor:

On Tuesday, March 5, during the evening rush hour, my 7-year-old son was playing basketball in our driveway. We live on Glen Road near the very busy four-way intersection. The ball rolled into the street; he knows better than to follow it, and he watched as the red car sped toward the ball striking it. Did the driver stop or slow down for that matter you ask? No they did not, so much for nicer in Newtown. Thankfully he was not hurt.

The posted speed limit is almost never obeyed by anyone as they approach the traffic light. My wife and I have complained to the police department, requested the placement of the mobile radar trailer in our front yard to alert speeders and offered our driveway as a speed trap. Occasionally we see a patrol car parked in the empty lot next door. They don’t stay long nor are they present when speeding is most likely to occur.

I read the Bee every week and the Police Report section rarely reports moving violations. I am not knocking the police department and the work they are doing, however speeding is a well-known problem in this town so why isn’t more being done to discourage it? The patrol cars have the technology mounted on them and the department must have a few handheld devices. I see many parked police cars in front of the station that could be used. Didn’t we, the taxpayers, buy them that white unmarked vehicle for just this purpose? What about the motorcycle now that the weather is getting better and let’s not forget about the other special blue unmarked vehicle. I believe the department had a full complement of officers until recently. So what is the excuse? Pick a well-traveled commuter road on any given day during the rush hour and write some tickets. When folks have to pay more for insurance they might get the message and slow down.

Bruce Bomely

11 Glen Road, Sandy Hook                                                April 6, 2011