Police Chief James Viadero on January 8 told a group of Toddy Hill Road area residents that he has found funding for a town purchase of two electronic speed display signs that will be positioned on Toddy Hill Road to deter motorists from speeding.

The police chief spoke at a Police Commission meeting. A nucleus of several Toddy Hill Road area residents has attended about 20 Police Commission meetings in seeking to solve a speeding problem on that north-south town road, which links Sandy Hook to Botsford.

As a result of the residents’ longstanding concerns, police have increased their presence in that area to better control speeding. Also, police have positioned their electronic, battery-operated portable speed display in that area, weather permitting, to indicate to motorists their vehicles’ speed as they approach the sign, as compared to the posted speed limit in the area.

However, because it is wintertime, that portable speed display is in storage.

At the January 8 session, Candide Slinko of 79 Toddy Hill Road said that the Town of Hamden has solar-powered electronic speed displays installed in that town.

Chief Viadero said he is seeking information on such displays from three vendors who supply those devices to municipalities. When the town acquires two solar-powered signs, they will be installed facing both directions of travel on Toddy Hill Road, he said. Research will be done to determine where to install the signs to maximize their effectiveness.

The town Department of Public Works would be able to install such signs any time of the year, the chief said. He noted that the electronic speed display on a stationary, solar-powered sign would not be as “bright” as the display on the police department’s portable speed display.

Pete Sepe of 83 Toddy Hill Road said that speeding has continued on Toddy Hill Road for the past month. “The last 30 days has been tough,” he said. Mr Sepe acknowledged that town police officers have spent time there enforcing the traffic laws.

Carolyn Sepe of the same address pointed out that the police’s presence in the neighborhood to enforce traffic laws makes the situation better. “When you’re out there, it really makes a difference,” she said. But after police leave the area, motorists resume speeding, she added.

Over the years, residents from various neighborhoods have urged the Police Commission, which is also the Traffic Authority, to control speeding in their areas.

Such efforts resulted in five speed tables being installed on Queen Street, and four speed tables being placed on Key Rock Road. Speed tables are broad speed bumps which cause many motorists to drop their speed. A lengthy campaign for speed table installation by Pearl Street residents, however, was unsuccessful.

Toddy Hill Road area residents started attending Police Commission meetings in the spring of 2017 to lobby for better speed control following a serious early morning auto accident there.