East Lyme could become one of the latest Connecticut communities to use speed cameras as the town considers installing them at five locations, including near East Lyme High School and along Route 1 near Interstate 95.
The East Lyme Board of Selectmen delayed a vote to send the speed camera plan to the Connecticut Department of Transportation after hearing mixed public opinions. Board members plan to consider the feedback and revisit the proposal at their next meeting in October.
The town says the goal of the speed cameras is to get drivers to slow down.
One location under consideration is a stretch of Route 1 near I-95. The town is also considering cameras in school zones, including along Chesterfield Road near East Lyme High School, because many students walk in the area and many drivers exceed the speed limit.
The town says there were 32 crashes in that area between 2023 and 2025.
During the public discussion, residents were roughly split on whether they supported the cameras. Some raised privacy concerns, while others said they wanted the cameras for public safety.
Mark Nagorniuk of Old Lyme said he has seen an impact from cameras used in the construction zone on I-95.
“The construction zone cameras have definitely made a difference, so I’m definitely in favor of them,” he said.
Marian, an East Lyme resident whose last name was not provided, raised concerns about relying on cameras.
“There’s a lot of problems that could happen without the aid of human perception,” she said.
East Lyme Police Chief Kevin Glenn said the public feedback would be included if the proposal advances.
“It will be part of the minutes that accompany the application if it makes it to the Department of Transportation,” Glenn said.
An ordinance allowing speed cameras in East Lyme was approved in January.
East Lyme would join a growing number of Connecticut municipalities pursuing automated traffic enforcement. There are 18 towns and cities in the state with approved speed and red-light camera plans, including Middletown, West Hartford and Groton. Milford also has an approved plan but recently decided to pause it.
