Connecticut Governor Rell: Budget Bolsters Traffic and Safety Initiatives

March 4, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today held a news conference at a rest area on Interstate 95 in Fairfield County to highlight the elements of her budget proposals that stress traffic and highway safety, including the addition of 100 new state troopers devoted exclusively to enforcing traffic laws and two new Department of Motor Vehicles “truck squads” to target companies with a history of safety violations.

“Wherever I go in Connecticut I hear from motorists who are tired of aggressive drivers, impaired drivers and drivers who simply choose to break the rules,” Governor Rell said. “Enough is enough. I spend a lot of time on the roads and highways myself, and I feel the same way. No longer will we allow these thoughtless individuals to put both our safety and their own at risk.

“My budget calls for a broad-based approach to dealing with these problems,” the Governor said. “That includes increasing the strength of the Connecticut State Police by adding 100 state troopers over the next five years with the sole mission of traffic safety, and a pilot program using automated speed enforcement cameras in the Lyme-Old Lyme area of Interstate 95. This technology already exists and is being used elsewhere to stop speeders and enhance public safety. I believe it can work here as well.”

The Governor’s budget also significantly increases the DMV’s truck inspection program. Her proposals include $700,000 for an additional 10 Commercial Vehicle Safety Inspectors to enhance inspection squad activity. The DMV will be able to deploy two additional truck squads as needed.

“Our focus on removing unsafe trucks continues,” Governor Rell said. “To accomplish this I am increasing the DMV’s ability to deploy roving truck squads that will target companies with a history of unsafe practices and put problem trucks – and problem drivers – out of service before they hurt anyone.

“I am also adding shifts and putting in a new scale at the Greenwich weigh station, one of our busiest locations,” the Governor said. “The weigh stations are a critical component of our safety efforts, since these locations conduct vehicle inspections, identify any overloaded vehicles and scrutinize paperwork and driver licenses for any errors or omissions.”

The road and highway safety elements of Governor Rell’s budget are part of a broader emphasis on public safety. The budget includes funding to build on the criminal justice system reforms enacted in January, including 125 additional correction officers, 13 new probation officers, a new warrant squad to track down and arrest probation violators and new funding for a wide range of programs to assist former prisoners who want to set their lives straight after leaving prison.

The Governor’s budget also calls for tough new standards for sexual predators, including an overhaul of the state’s “Megan’s Law” sex offender database, a requirement that offenders register in person and regularly check in with law enforcement to confirm the database records, a ban on name changes for sex offenders and a special marking on their driver’s licenses to assist police in immediately identifying any offender who violates the terms of their release by, for example, loitering near a school.

In addition, Governor Rell proposed new standards and requirements for the training and licensing of teenage drivers, new laws to crack down on the production and sale of methamphetamine and a law to require motorists to clear ice and snow from the roof of their car, preventing “ice missiles” from flying off at highway speeds.

Source: Connecticut Governor

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