Chairman of Fairfield Traffic Authority proposes major changes to town's controversial speed camera program

Well, Kevin Kiley says he wants to reduce the cost of each violation, make the appeals process fairer and faster, and add more signage to alert drivers when they've entered a school zone in town. The chairman pitched his plan at a meeting Thursday night. While town leaders say the cameras are helping change driver behavior, Kiley claims there's room for improvement, some of which could actually benefit drivers. His proposal calls for a flat $40 fine for all violations, down from the current $65 fine for the first offense and $90 fine for repeat violations. Traffic officials say one of the biggest complaints they've received is from out-of-towners unfamiliar with Fairfield school zones. So Kiley wants to add two flashing beacons at each zone to alert drivers of reduced speed limits. Kiley says the 40 total lights would cost about $700,000, but they'd be paid for with money from the speed camera program. My goal for the town, for all of you, would be to get to a place where you have the proper road impediments and signals to get people to slow down without needing to use speed cameras. I would love to see the data as we move forward with this program. The plan needs legislative approval to become reality. I'm Justin DeVellis, News 12.