TITLE
ORDINANCE OF THE NEW HAVEN BOARD OF ALDERS ESTABLISHING THE USE OF AUTOMATED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT SAFETY DEVICES IN THE CITY OF NEW HAVEN PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY GRANTED IN PUBLIC ACT 23-116, AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE VISION ZERO COUNCIL, AND APPROVING THE ASSOCIATED OPERATIONS PLAN FOR SUBMISSION TO THE CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
BODY
WHEREAS, speeding and red-light running are significant problems in New Haven with respect to roadway safety and traffic violations;
WHEREAS, studies have shown that both speeding and collisions involving red light violations have a significantly large impact on fatal and serious injury motor vehicle accidents, with particularly destructive effects on economically and socially disadvantaged communities;
WHEREAS, both driving behaviors can be greatly mitigated by improved enforcement;
WHEREAS, automated traffic enforcement is one such enforcement tool that can be utilized by the City of New Haven (the "City") to reduce the prevalence of excessive speed and the running of red lights, thereby improving roadway safety for all users;
WHEREAS, the State of Connecticut on June 27, 2023, enacted Public Act No. 23-116, providing in section 11 thereof that "any municipality may authorize the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices ("ATESD") at locations within school zones, pedestrian safety zones and other places in such municipality, provided (1) the municipality adopts an ordinance in accordance with the provisions of this section, and (2) the locations of such devices are identified in a plan approved by the Department of Transportation pursuant to section 17 of this act;"
WHEREAS, the City's vision of significantly reducing and eventually eliminating serious roadway injuries and deaths, known as "Vision Zero" aligns with the City's long-term safety vision plan ("Safe Routes for All") and the United States Department of Transportation's National Roadway Safety Strat...
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