Speed Cameras at Old Greenwich School Too?
Updated: Jun 13
In defense of the town's controversial school zone speed camera program, set up to operate in 8 school zones, the Greenwich Police Department (GPD) recently released an official infographic to make their case directly to the public. The flyer highlights the program's documented safety results, data privacy protections, operational oversight, and potential future expansions.
The Case for Speed Cameras
The GPD's infographic leans heavily on safety metrics and structural compliance to ease resident skepticism. It highlights the Proven Results (92% reduction in speeding), the Plan & Financial Approvals (by Law and Finance Departments), the Vendor Selection (Blue Line competitive bid process), and the Data Security and Privacy (Compliant with Criminal Justice System (CJIS) data protection).
Breaking News: Old Greenwich in the Spotlight
Tucked into the "Ongoing Review and Adaptation" section at the bottom of the flyer is the biggest surprise for local residents.
While the GPD has committed to conducting annual traffic studies—including plans to evaluate and potentially reposition cameras at the newly constructed Central Middle School—the flyer reveals that Old Greenwich School and other local schools are actively being evaluated for the devices. Because Old Greenwich School sits along the main thoroughfare through town and on the direct route to Tod’s Point, speed cameras will catch a high volume of speeding drivers.
Pushback Against the Program
Despite the GPD's data, the program faces steep resistance. Opponents argue that automated enforcement is impersonal, confusing, and violates driver privacy. A central criticism is that the system prioritizes locations that are "ticket-generating" to benefit an outside vendor, rather than focusing purely on safety.
Furthermore, critics believe that the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) and Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) should have had a direct vote on a contract with a third-party vendor supplying the equipment in return for ticket fees. Some of the most intense pushback is currently coming from neighborhoods in north-central Greenwich, where the hardware had been active.
Between the Lines: Because of last weekend's power outage, the pivotal vote on the speed camera program has been postponed to June 15. That means local residents have a few extra days to make their voices heard. You can provide your feedback to all the RTM members here.