Sixteen cameras in eight school zones went online at the beginning of May, but motorists are only getting warnings before tickets start on June 1 when $50 fines for a first violation and $75 fines for each subsequent violation go into effect.
Police officials recently provided an update on the speed camera program to local leaders during a Board of Selectmen meeting.
Deputy Chief Edward Weihe said there had been a total of about 114,000 speeding violations in the first 17 days of May and the monthly projection was about 190,000.
Citing a model provided by the town's speed camera vendor — Maryland -based Altumint — Weihe said police expect about 31,000 violations in the first week of June and about 13,000 in each subsequent week as motorists become more aware of the program.
That would result in roughly $3.5 million in fines, but — with about a 10% rejection rate if data cannot be confirmed — the total amount of fines expected in June is about $3.2 million, he said.
Following the same depreciation model, the number of violations are expected to drop between 10% and 20% for the rest of the year, but fines will still "probably be higher than $2 million" a month next year as well, Weihe said.
Police Chief Michael Paris said none of the revenue goes to the police department, but is rather statutorily required to be used for roadway safety infrastructure, adding the technology is being used nationwide.
"We don't want to tax people for the sake of taxing people," Paris said. "It's truly to slow people down in these areas where we think are the most vulnerable, and that's our school children. I would hate to have a child hit in an area and we didn't try to do something to prevent that."
Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick requested signs be more visible, but Paris noted road signs must comply with state and federal regulations, and the town would be liable if it doesn't follow regulations.
Kupchick said Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo had received "threats" from residents who were upset about speed cameras there, and warned Fairfield officials the same could happen in their own town if the public is not fully aware their speed is being tracked.
"I think it's great that we're trying to slow people down in our town," Kupchick said, but "I don't think we want to piss off our residents."
Kupchick reiterated her support for the program, noting she voted in favor of it, but doesn't want the cameras to be perceived as a "money grab."
"You're going to have a lot of very upset residents who just got whacked, or are about to get really whacked, with their taxes on the (revaluation)," she said. "Yes, we want people to slow down, but we also want to be considerate to our community and let them know that there's a camera here and you're going to get a pretty big ticket."
Paris said as June approaches, the police department will continue to put out as much information as it can to ensure residents are aware of the cameras.
The cameras will be operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week regardless of whether school is in session, according to the police department's website.
While the speed limit is reduced to 20 mile per hour during school hours, enforcement will continue on off hours based on the normal posted speed limit, according to the website.
First Selectwoman Christine Vitale said local officials have been discussing the speed camera program for more than a year, and it was supposed to go live in October, hinting that residents should be fully aware of the program.
Regardless, officials can examine options to improve the program once it is fully operational, she said.
"Let's see what happens June 1," Vitale said.
For more information, visit the Fairfield Police Department's website dedicated to the town's speed camera program.
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