Surprise: Greenwich Legislators Support Speed Cameras Despite Opposition by Many Residents
For those in support of the speed camera program, it was a good night. On Monday, June 15, the Greenwich Representative Town Meeting (RTM) voted 100 in favor and 60 against reinstating the town's speed camera program.
Pause and Restart
The program, featuring installed cameras in 8 of the Town's school zones, went fully live in January 2026. After it was discovered that the initial approval process did not fulfill state-mandated public hearing requirements, the cameras went dark in April. A formal public hearing was subsequently held on May 14, 2026, to remedy the oversight.
Effective Persuasion
Greenwich Police Chief Jim Heavey, representatives of the vendor Blue Line Solutions, and First Selectman Fred Camillo did an effective job convincing RTM members that the program focuses strictly on slowing down traffic rather than revenue generation, and that motorist privacy is protected. Selectwoman Rachel Khanna and State Representative Steve Meskers spoke strongly in favor.
The full voting record by RTM members in each District is available here:
Community Email Campaign Ignored
Community input as evidenced by surveys and emails revealed a difference sentiment. A lopsided 87% of the 250 emails sent to RTM members leading up to the vote were against the speed cameras. Nevertheless, the majority ruled.
Districts With Cameras Installed Vote "No"
Feeling the impact up close, the Districts voting predominantly against the cameras were the exact locations where the hardware had already been operating. Four out of the twelve Districts voted overwhelmingly no. This included District 1 (Central Greenwich) voting 1 in favor, 9 against; District 7 (North Central Greenwich) voting in 2 favor, 10 against; District 10 (Northwest Greenwich) voting 3 in favor, 11 against; and District 11 (Northeast Greenwich) 7 voting in favor, 14 against. What did their experience with the cameras in their neighborhood cause them to be so negative?
Old Greenwich: Just Wait
In Old Greenwich, a new speed camera installation has been announced as a possibility. Located in front of Old Greenwich School, the speed cameras would capture lots of traffic going to and from Tod's Point. And yet, not one of the District 6 Old Greenwich RTM representatives voted against the speed camera plan; 14 voted in favor, none against. Could they face backlash from residents in a similar way to D1, D7, D10 and D11?
Between the Lines: In a letter to town residents, Greenwich Police Chief Jim Heavey promised that the program will be administered with a focus on safety, not revenue. Town leadership wants us to trust. But looking at the lopsided vote in the districts that actually lived with the cameras, local residents may wish the town had slowed down the rollout rather than the traffic.