The Great Greenwich Speed Camera Rebellion
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- 2 min read
The frustration of Greenwich residents about the new school zone speed cameras has officially hit a fever pitch. At the Board of Selectmen meeting on Thursday, March 12, what was meant to be a routine update turned into a discussion of the rising number of "nasty" complaints flooding Town Hall.
Your BMW Can't Go That Slow?
First Selectman Fred Camillo didn't mince words, reporting that his office has been inundated with calls from residents—many of whom are not exactly using "polite" language. Camillo noted that callers have been swearing and using foul language to express their distaste for the multiple $50 and $75 tickets landing in their mailboxes. Camillo's message to the disgruntled was blunt: "Don't call up and tell us your BMW 340i can't go that slow. We don't care."
Data vs Distrust
The administration stands firmly by the safety data which shows a nearly 90% reduction in speeders at key locations such as Eagle Hill. However, at North Street School, that reduction has been closer to 38%, leading Chief Heavey to admit there is a "learning curve" in that area. While Town Hall is framing this as a massive win for student safety, many residents view the 90% stat as evidence of a "shakedown." Others are concerned about privacy data and the ethics of automated enforcement. Selectwoman Lauren Rabin raised the possibility of holding a formal public forum to gather community feedback and address what she called "a lot of misinformation and suspicion" surrounding the program.
Petition Gone Viral
The heat isn’t just at Town Hall; it’s exploding online. A petition here to end speed cameras in Greenwich has gone viral, recently crossing the 750-signature mark. The petition is calling for an immediate halt to all new citations, a phase-out of existing camera installations and a shift toward community-supported safety measures rather than automated surveillance.
Voices from the Online Community
Instagram, Nextdoor and other local discussion threads are racking up views:
The "Brake-Slamming" Danger: "The 90% reduction stat is a fantasy. People aren't driving safer; they are slamming on their brakes when they see the camera and then flooring it immediately after. It’s creating a 'slingshot' effect on North Street that is actually more dangerous for the buses."
The "Out-of-Town" Revenue: "Why is 35% of every ticket going to a private vendor in Tennessee (Blue Line Solutions)? If this were truly about safety, 100% of that $50 fine would stay in Greenwich for sidewalks or crossing guards. This is a private-sector revenue grab."
The Lack of Due Process: "Getting a ticket in the mail two weeks after the fact does nothing to change driver behavior in the moment. It’s a 'gotcha' tax, not a safety intervention. If a cop pulls you over, the behavior stops then and there."
The "Unnatural" Speed Limit: "North Street is a State Route (Route 104). Dropping the flow of traffic to 20mph on a major artery feels completely unnatural for the road's design, which is why so many 'good' drivers are getting caught at 26 or 27 mph."
Between the Lines: If General Putnam were charging down the Post Road today, he wouldn't be a revolutionary hero; he’d be a man with a $500 stack of automated citations. That public forum couldn't come soon enough.