Mosca Says More Tickets Ahead

OLD SAYBROOK – When the traffic light turns green to yellow, do you accelerate to beat the light or slow down so you are not in the middle of the intersection when it turns red?

The difference could mean life or death.

Old Saybrook Police Department Chief Edmund Mosca said increased complains observed or reported to the Old Saybrook Police Commission has lead the department to step up enforcement as children will soon be going back to school.

“I’m directing them (officers) to give fewer warnings and more tickets until there is reasonable compliance,” Mosca said.
Increased enforcement, Mosca admits, “may create animosity” but he believes if it saves someone’s life than the department is being effective.

Safer roads come as a result of increased police enforcement, Mosca said, because it sends out the message that violations won’t be tolerated.

Mosca said the department aims to target common violations, such as running stop lights, failing to obey stop signs, and operating non hands-free cellular phones.

“The worst tragedies occur because of traffic light violations,” Mosca said, adding “I alerted supervisors to have patrols concentrate on various intersections in town,” Mosca said.

The three intersections which seem to be the most problematic, Mosca said, are Route 1 and School House Road, Route 1 and Main Street, and River Street and Elm Street.

Additionally, Mosca noted that cellular phones is becoming an increasing problem estimating that “four out of ten drivers are operating and holding cellular phones” in town.

“We are asking for people to be extra careful to avoid a tragedy,” Mosca said.