The West Haven City Council voted Nov. 10 to adopt an ordinance framework that allows the city to pursue automated traffic enforcement safety devices in designated school zones, pedestrian safety zones and other high-risk locations.

The ordinance authorizes the Police Commission and police department to commission traffic and speed studies, recommend camera locations, and seek Connecticut Department of Transportation approval where state roads are involved. Any vendor contract, site-specific placement and final plan must return to the council and other city boards for review and public hearings before cameras are installed.

Mayor Dorinda Borer and Police Chief (speaking at council) framed the move as a public-safety effort aimed at slowing motorists in high-risk corridors. "This is about safety," the mayor said during debate. Chief (police) emphasized the department will verify every camera-captured violation before a citation is issued, saying the program is "not punitive. It's preventative." Attorney Trey Taylor noted state enabling law and that civil-penalty remedies available for other municipal fines (liens, wage garnishment) would apply if collections are required.

Council members pressed for data-driven placement and for protections to limit footage use to only the enforcement purposes allowed by statute and the ordinance. The council discussed placing devices near schools (McCrille School, South Street) and problem sections of Ocean Avenue and Route 34; the chief said selection will be based on vendor speed studies and crash data. The ordinance text limits data use to evidence of the ordinance violations and outlines appeals and hearing procedures consistent with Connecticut General Statutes cited during debate.

Public concerns were raised earlier in the evening via a letter from resident John R. Vinci, who warned cameras can become "a revenue stream disguised as public safety" and raised privacy and mistaken-identity risks. Council members and the chief responded that the ordinance includes review steps, limited disclosure rules, and an officer-verification step before citations are mailed.

The council voted to carry the ordinance forward; the motion passed on a voice vote.

Next steps: the police department will begin vendor outreach and traffic studies; any vendor contract and final placement plan will return to the Police Commission and City Council for additional public hearings and approval.