Also, the police need to stop running red lights themselves. Kinda sets a bad example, y'know?

In the last day i've seen 2 police officers make illegal rights on reds (without flashing lights)
and 2 drivers blow through 100% red lights, one at State and Olive, driving through the left turn signal while red, and the other at Grand avenue where Ferraros where a woman in a Hummer speed up to make the yellow and kept on accelerating blowing right through the red, talking on her cell phone the whole time.

That is infuriating, Pedro. Maybe the penalty for aggressively blowing reds needs to be much higher. Keep the regular state ticket, but add a special city ordinance that says cops can give out a discretionary $5000 ticket if they think the instance was particularly aggressive?

Happens a lot on Whalley (at grasso, ellsworth, norton, sherman, orchard), even when the cross-walk signals are on and people are crossing the street.

Whalley would be a perfect spot for red light cameras. The suburban drivers are out of control. Unfortunately the ACLU killed the bill even though a driver killed an 11 year old girl last year.

While I came to a stop, the car BEHIND me drove around me and ran the red light.

Particularly in these trying economic times, a red-light camera should be a sensible correction. As in Europe, arrange cameras to take a photo of the red light and the license plate of the car running the red light. Send photographic evidence to owner of vehicle along with ticket. I suspect New Haven would suddenly have considerably more income.

I cross the Whitney/Trumbull/Church intersection every day, and it is very rare not to see cars ignoring the red light. I've seen it happen when there was a police car there, but I've never seen the police pull anyone over for running the red light. Drivers know they can run a red and the police will not do anything.

I think the fee for running a red should be $1000. It is an incredibly dangerous thing to do.

Unfortunately Deborah, despite heavy public pressure, the legislature failed to pass the red light bill yet again.

I came late to this issue. Doing some research on the computer today, it seems there was a bill SB 149 that is a two year, 12 light trial in New Haven? I hope that is a start. If I know who to write to, who to call, I will do so in promotion of this bill.

Debbie G

Also fed up of people not stopping at the Stop sign on Vista, Laurel Edgewood intersection.
I wish i had never bought a hse in New Haven. High property taxes and a load of hassels.

People routinely run through all of the red lights in the Broadway Ave. area including the series of lights on Whalley between Howe and York, and the light at the York/Elm/Whalley intersection. There are tons of pedestrians in this area. I'm surprised more people aren't injured.

I'm hosting a meeting tonight (Tuesday, June 9) to discuss traffic and crime issues in Northern East Rock. The meeting will be at Wilbur Cross High School at 7pm. Please come and help us design an overall plan for addressing these issues in East Rock. And email me at justinelicker@gmail.com if you can't make it but want to be involved.

Justin Elicker
www.elicker2009.com

I couldn't agree more with this. I am tired of this blatant ignorance to such a basic and elementary safety law. Can anyone explain to me why the NHPD "seems" to be doing so little in regards to traffic enforcement? This is a sincere question. The ratio of traffic stops I see seems quite low compared to the amount of infractions that I see. The continuity of infractions also suggests a lack of enforcement. Please explain.

There has to be another way to slow traffic down , twist motorists arms to obey Traffic Lights / stop signs. Conversing with the cops will not get you anywhere ,the supervisors can't be bothered and need the general pop's vote for Union stewardship.
Overtime rules the roost,watching them like chorus girls over a street dig really cut the cake. Maybe Yale's homeboy johnny on the spot The Honorable Police Commisioner Epstein can help ??

This isn't limited to New Haven - it's everywhere. But, perhaps synchronizing the lights woudl help. One should be able to drive down Whalley at the speed limit and get through most of the lights on green. Ditto on other major streets. It can take me as long as 45 minutes to drive from Westville to Fairhaven. My self discipline gets a bit tattered toward the end of the ride.

I saw a police cruiser run a red for no apparent reason at Crescent and Goffe Monday morning at 8AM. No flashers, and turned again on Sherman past Hillhouse High, just cruising. Bad example in a neighborhood where the rule of law is already threatened.

I saw a police cruiser run a red for no apparent reason at Crescent and Goffe Monday morning at 8AM. No flashers, and turned again on Sherman past Hillhouse High, just cruising. Bad example in a neighborhood where the rule of law is already threatened.

I agree 100% that the first people who should obey the law are police officers. SLA, you're not the first to complain about officers disobeying traffic signals. Ensuring the police follow the rules is one step among many that can improve our dangerous streets.

I met with a group of neighbors about two weeks ago to discuss traffic safety issues and we began to compile a list of problem areas (including Canner) and action steps. Email me at justinelicker@gmail.com if you'd like to be involved.

Although a small step, we requested that Traffic and Parking place a speed trailer temporarily - first on Willow St. and then Mitchell Dr. Clearly there is a lot more that needs to be done and I plan on working hard on these issues because they are important to me personally AND deeply important to residents in East Rock.

Justin Elicker
www.elicker2009.com

New Haven Police Department was pulling over folks around Whitney and Canner this morning - I saw three stops within 5 minutes around 8:45 They really need to keep up a high level of enforcement at this intersection and up the hill on Canner. NHPD Please keep it up - stop every single speeder and stop light/sign runner - give them big tickets and maybe they will stop endangering our lives to get to work a few minutes faster.

People have posted videos demonstrating how frequent this is on other "clickets" about rampant red light running in New Haven.

It's time for our government to step up and propose a solution.

Acknowledged by CTLS

What about the cops that put their lights on to get through red lights to get out of traffic, once in the clear they turn their lights off? What about the cops that go left on red with lights on then turn them off once through light? What about the cops that go right on red with their lights on when you have the walk sign, then turn their lights off when they get through the light? Oh, let me guess those were calls they received but were cancelled at the last minute? New Haven cops are the WORST offenders!!!!!!!!!

from the bike cam... this officer was behind me and the other cyclist at the light then revved around at close range - straddles the lanes along the next block before getting stuck at the next red (like almost every single car that zooms around me on my way to work - why are you racing to the next red light?).

The final F**k you is at 1:12 a charming little un-signaled turn. Could've been a right hook if anyone had been next to the car. Does anyone really think these officers who drive like this are not setting an example, an example that is enthusiastically followed by all the rest of the folks zooming around New Haven? Look, all I'm asking for is that when you're driving the squad car around and not answering a call, that you be un-cool and follow the street laws to the letter. You are setting the example it should be part of your job.

I was "cut off" at a stop sign today by a school bus. The driver put out the stop sign/lights and then zoomed in front of me to make her left in front of me before I could go straight - signs being retracted as she moved. What's next?

Right now the city is unable to install red light cameras to enforce traffic laws because state law will not allow it. In the next month or two the State Legislature will be discussing the issue. I encourage folks to help advocate for passage of this legislation.

There will be a free shuttle on Monday, Feb. 22nd. to a Bicycle and Pedestrian Legislative Reception in Hartford. Please attend.

The bus will be leaving Phelps Gate (across from the New Haven Green) at 1:30pm and returning to the same location at 5:30pm. Everyone is invited.

Please see this Facebook page for more information: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=500178790603&ref=ts. Or just show at 1:30!

Justin Elicker
Ward 10 Alderman
justin.elicker@gmail.com

Dear Mr. Alderman,

Why do we have more cameras in the Westville section of New Haven?
We need a camera at the corner of Laurel, edgewood and Vista terrace. The Hopkins school traffic has made living in this section an absolute "nightmare"

Thank you for posting this, Justin.

I hope people will speak up and insist that the state allows their communities to enforce the law.

We don't need big brother's cameras watching for red light runners - we need local police enforcement.

We do need red light cameras. We don't have the money or resources to have cops sitting at Canner, at Ferry, at Elm, at Frontage, etc... It's not Big Brother at all. Our community has allowed this to go on and snowball for too long. They gave us the chance to treat one another with respect and courtesy by driving safely. We and our neighbors have FAILED. Instead, we have to have decent, safe behavior legislated. Sad, but true.

The nicest thing about New Haven is the fact that you can walk, bike, and drive around town pretty easily. The drivers running red lights and making illegal right turns are making life impossible for everyone else. It's a quality of life issue. Sadly, i'm getting used to seeing parents with children get cut off by drivers speeding to the next red light. If cameras and lights prove too expensive, a few extra 4-way stops would be a good start.

crooks don't want red light cam i understand that i don't want them. It is like making 90.000 after defrauding credit card from a governmen program.

Some smallishpoints -
It's not just in New Haven - it's everywhere. Decent behavior cannot be legislated; we need to enforce these laws using our own police forces, not cameras.

The argument that criminals don't want red lights "subtly" implies that those who don't want them as well could be criminals. That argument makes it tough for the law abiding citizen, but the one who is concerned about civil liberties, to speak up about red light cams and other invasive techniques like that. "I've got nothing to hide" isn't a reasonable argument for this kind of surveillance.

Opening that red light cam option isn't opening a door, it's more like knocking down a dam - the flood that follows will do far more damage than was EVER anticipated.

I KNEW YOU WOULD REAR YOUR HEAD NO CONTEST CAMS COMING IN. You are very smart that is like a black collar criminal.

Well done Sue - you just proved one of my points.

There have been several additional crashes at this location recently, some severe. Does anyone have additional details or photos? Were they due to the light being run on Whitney, or on Canner?

Would anyone like to help tape record the red light running at this intersection?

as a nearby resident, i've heard and seen many an accident at this intersection. for some reason people think running red lights has no consequences at whitney and canner! but i'm here to tell you that it does!

A coalition of us have advocated for red light camera enabling legislation from the state for years. Unfortunately because the state legislature will not give us authority to install the cameras we need to take a different approach.

I believe targeted traffic enforcement will both improve this situation and begin to address some other crime issues in New Haven. In recent years there has been a general sense that it is okay to break laws in New Haven. Whether it is running red lights, racing dirt bikes on our streets, dumping illegally in our parks. The 'broken windows' philosophy used by Giuliani in New York made a statement that New York was a place of laws and set the tone for all residents. We need to be doing the same in New Haven.

I will ask the police to do some enforcement in the coming months at this intersection.

Justin Elicker
Ward 10 Alderman
justin.elicker@gmail.com

I agree with Justin, but it's difficult to claim progress on the ticketing front without having information on exactly what traffic enforcement is being done each year. In other words, "without knowledge action is useless, and knowledge without action is futile." -Abu Bakr

This letter by representatives of all 12 of the Community Management Teams, and many Alderpersons, was sent more than a year ago. It just reiterates the requests that were made in the 2008 Safe Streets Petition (which was signed by virtually all elected representatives in the City, plus over 2,000 residents). Request #1 has to do with tracking enforcement activity. A group of citizens also met with the Chief last March and has been issuing requests to the city on this issue for a long time - we'd had no luck until recently, when the NHPD told me that they are finally looking into the reporting.
http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1101479047374-39/Safe+Streets+Letter+to+Mayor+DeStefano+082411r.pdf

If you want these goals accomplished, please contact your Alderperson and encourage them to also follow up with the requests.

Beyond tracking enforcement, I would like to see physical changes to the intersection in the long term that would reduce red-light running, improve safety for vulnerable users who cross here, and make the consequences of crashes much less severe (when they do happen) by reducing speed.

Good points Mark. I spoke with the Chief and they should have some enforcement at this location in the near future. We'll keep at it.

Justin Elicker
Ward 10 Alderman
justin.elicker@gmail.com

I used to live in Long Island, and there were red light cameras everywhere. Getting a ticket for $50 each time you run a red light would definitely deter people here as well. Also helps with illegal right on reds, which I see a lot of in East Rock.

And keep in mind - bicyclists do the same - constantly running red lights and endangering pedestrians - even more so than motorists IMHO.

Dear Mayor Elicker. Can you please provide updates on what measures have been taken to improve pedestrian safety? My impressions is an increase in the number of cars running red lights. The problem is compounded by those on dirt bikes, scooters, and ATVs. I have even found them riding on the sidewalk multiple times. As if the danger of crossing New Haven roads was not enough, we now could get run over on the sidewalk. The deterioration of pedestrian safety is alarming.