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Gary K. Tyler
Chief of Police

South Windsor Police Services
151 Sand Hill Road
South Windsor, Ct  06074
(860)644-2551

Member Metro Traffic Services A regional Traffic Safety Enforcement Team

Personnel Assigned:

Agent Chris Duchesne - Unit Manager/Traffic Accident Reconstructionist
Officer Matthew Mainieri - Traffic Accident Reconstructionist
Officer Brian Eckblom - Traffic Accident Reconstructionist

Responsibilities include:

• Identify traffic problem areas through analysis of traffic statistics and from citizen complaints
• Engage in selective enforcement once problem areas are identified
• Provide statistical information to patrol division
• Develop plans for and coordinate all traffic events
• Enforce Speed limits
• Enforce all motor vehicle laws
• Identify areas in which frequent traffic crashes occur
• Develop and implement plans to reduce frequent traffic crashes in identified areas
• Investigate motor vehicle complaints of a serious and or repetitive nature
• Investigate all fatal motor vehicle crashes
• Investigate crashes involving serious injuries
• Investigate crashes involving all Town owned vehicles and those from other municipal agencies
• Provide technical assistance to other uniformed personnel

• Administer Metro Traffic Services grants and safety enforcement initiatives
• Conduct traffic surveys
• Reports for new developments’ traffic flow
• Provide traffic safety education for Town agencies and citizens
  Such as the Child Car Seat Seat Clinic and Buckle up...America.
• Liaison with various agencies and organization involved with traffic safety

Public Act 09-121

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A "MOVE OVER" LAW IN CONNECTICUT

SUMMARY: This act requires a motorist approaching one or more stationary emergency vehicles located on the travel lane, breakdown lane, or shoulder of a highway with three or more travel lanes to (1) immediately slow to a reasonable speed below the posted speed limit and (2) if traveling in the lane adjacent to the location of the emergency vehicle, move over one lane, unless this would be unreasonable or unsafe.

For these requirements to apply, the emergency vehicle must have flashing lights activated. Under the act, an “emergency vehicle” includes a vehicle:

1. operated by a member of an emergency medical service organization responding to an emergency call;

2. operated by a fire department or by an officer of the department responding to a fire or other emergency;

3. operated by a sworn member of the State Police or an organized local police department;

4. that is a maintenance vehicle; or

5. that is a licensed wrecker.
Related Act
A provision of PA 09-187 (§ 44) broadens the provision of this act covering vehicles operated by sworn members of the State Police or an organized local police department to include additional types of police officers such as (1) any member of a law enforcement unit who performs police duties, for example, DMV inspectors designated to enforce motor vehicle laws; (2) appointed constables who perform criminal law enforcement duties; and (3) certain special policemen appointed to enforce laws on state property, investigate public assistance fraud, and policemen for utility and transportation companies.

A violation of these requirements is an infraction, unless the violation results in the injury or death of the emergency vehicle operator, in which case the fines are a maximum of $2,500 and $10,000 respectively.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2009

Links:

Traffic Cams: http://www.ct.gov/dot/cwp/view.asp?a=2354&Q=290242&dotNav=|

DMV: http://www.ct.gov/dmv/site/default.asp

Traffic Ticket Frequently Asked Questions:  Centralized Infractions Bureau

Traffic statutes: http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/pub/Title14.htm

National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NTHSA): http://www.nhtsa.gov

Fuel Economy: http://www.fueleconomy.gov

Traffic Stop Guidelines: 
The traffic unit would like to offer the following suggestions to make traffic stops safe:

Pick a Safe Spot to Stop
Avoid slamming on your brakes.  Look for an area where the road is flat and wide and pull to the right hand side.  Use your signal and look for other traffic.  If the car is unmarked and you are unsure if it is an officer, activate your flashers, continue at a safe speed, and find a public, well-lighted area to stop.  Call 911 or the police phone number to verify with a dispatcher that the police are behind you.

Act Appropriately 
NEVER EXIT YOUR CAR without being asked to.  Turn on your dome light, place your hands on the top of the steering wheel and lower your window.  When the officer contacts you, they will tell you what they would like you to do next.

Excuses/ Concerns
If you have a legitimate reason for the violation or concern about the stop, you can address it with the officer on the initial contact.  Do not argue.  The side of the road is not a safe place to debate.  Concerns can be raised at a later time at the station with a supervisor or in the court room.

Legal Responsibilities
You are required to carry a valid driver’s license, insurance card and registration.
An officer can order the driver and occupants out of a car.
You must identify yourself to an officer on a legal stop.

Completing the stop
Once the stop is completed, pull out carefully from the stop location.  Officers in South Windsor will normally wait and assist you with re-entering traffic.  Watch for the officer’s cues.   

Accident Information:
The following statistical information is an analysis of crashes covering the year of 2009:

South Windsor Police Services investigated 459 crashes classified as motor vehicle accidents “MVA’s” in 2009.  We also investigated 200 crashes classified as “Collision Reports” for a total of 659 crashes. This represents a 9.8% increase in crashes from 2008 to 2009. Of these 659 crashes, 51 (7.73%) were reported with injuries, a slight decrease from 2008. 
Analysis of the primary contributing factors showed the following:

D.U.I.
Driving under the influence was a factor in 26 (2.89%) of our crashes over the two year period. DUI was listed as the primary or single contributing factor in several cases, but more often was cited as an additional contributing factor to other violations. It should also be noted that this agency made 61 DUI arrests in 2008 and 88 DUI arrests in 2009 (a 6.93% increase for arrests in 2009).

Evading Responsibility
Evading responsibility was cited as the primary contributing factor in 81 (9.20%) of our crashes over the two year period. Evading was also listed as a secondary violation in numerous other cases in which arrests were made. Many of these cases were property damage only and included parked unoccupied vehicles on private property.

Accident Locations
Consistently, most of our crashes occur on state roads and other major arteries. As expected, the number of crashes tends to increase during morning and evening rush hours and also during inclement weather.

Traffic Enforcement
In 2008 and 2009, SWPS issued 6,083 infractions as a result of traffic stops, crash investigations, and Metro Traffic Services (MTS) checkpoints. Many of these stops resulted in criminal arrests and misdemeanor summonses being issued. Members of the Traffic Unit and Metro Traffic Services (MTS) accounted for 54% of the enforcement action for 2008 and 2009.

 Common Ticket Costs:
(Note fines may vary with situation) 

Failure to Wear Seatbelt in Front Seat: $37.00
Operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle (applies to expirations of over 30 days): $93.00
Failure to Notify DMV of Change of Address: $93.00
Improper Muffler or Causing Unnecessary Noise: $225.00
Failure to Obey Stop Sign or Traffic Light: $124.00
Using a Cell Phone while Driving: $100.00
Violation of Passenger Restrictions on New Drivers: $103.00 (several situations incl. license suspension)
Operating Under Suspension: Misdemeanor Summons or Arrest
Operating without Insurance: Misdemeanor Summons or Arrest
Traveling Fast (Less than 56 MPH)
15 MPH over Speed Limit: 143.00
20 MPH over Speed Limit: 175.00
Speeding (56 MPH- 60 MPH)
            15 MPH over Speed Limit: 163.00
            20 MPH over Speed Limit: 195.00
Speeding over 60 MPH: Misdemeanor Summons or Arrest