Speed Camera Vote Coming to a Photo Finish on June 8

On Monday, June 8, the Greenwich legislative body (RTM) will vote on the speed camera program. The cameras were installed in ten locations across eight school zones but deactivated on April 2 for further public input. The issue has intensified with many letters written pro and con.

From the Greenwich Police Chief

In a May 26 Letter, issued by Greenwich Chief of Police Jim Heavey, he defended the school zone speed camera program by highlighting its dramatic success in reducing speeding violations by 92% and extreme speeding by 91%.

Heavey directly addressed community concerns regarding privacy and security by explaining that the cameras only capture brief footage of speeding vehicles, delete data after adjudication, and strictly adhere to federal CJIS security standards.

Furthermore, Chief Heavey countered claims that the program is a "money grab" by clarifying that all town revenue is legally mandated for local traffic safety improvements, while also admitting to a past procedural oversight regarding public hearings, which has since been corrected with a suspended-then-amended plan incorporating community and DOT feedback.

From District 7 Members William Galvin and Maya Tichio

In a May 27 Letter, members from District 7 (North Central Greenwich)—where many speed cameras are concentrated—firmly supported student safety, yet they urged a "No" vote on the current plan because the contract with Blue Line Solutions illegally uses a "per-citation" fee structure explicitly banned by Connecticut law. This profit-driven model, they argued, incentivizes placing cameras in high-traffic zones where children rarely walk (like Parkway School), rather than in high-risk areas with documented crash histories.

Furthermore, these members argued the program compromises resident privacy through links to nationwide license plate surveillance networks, fails to create lasting driving behavior changes, and suffers from chaotic implementation—meaning Greenwich should reject this flawed proposal to design a legally compliant, community-backed safety plan.

How You Can Influence the Debate

Here is the link to provide written comments before June 8 to all RTM members. Keep your comments short and respectful. This is an effective way to influence the debate.

Between the Lines: Looks like the June 8 RTM Meeting will not be a speedy one.

Story here