New Haven Mayor Breaks With Lamont, Readies First 7 Traffic Cameras

by Thomas Breen, New Haven Independent

The Elicker administration has installed seven red-light and speed cameras across the city, and plans to turn them on later this month — despite the governor calling on municipalities to pause putting up new “safety cameras” amid public concerns about privacy.

That is the latest chapter in New Haven’s years-long quest to slow down cars and improve street safety by sending out automated fines to drivers caught on camera speeding or running red lights.

Related: What you need to know about CT’s traffic cameras

Mayor Justin Elicker first announced the city’s plans to put up 19 red-light and speed cameras across town in March 2024. The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CT DOT) wound up approving only 15 of those traffic-camera spots in October 2025.

When up and running, the cameras will record images of offending vehicles’ license plates. Then, after review of that footage by a city-contracted vendor and by a city transit employee, the city will send a ticket worth $50 to $75 to the vehicle’s owner.

According to Elicker, New Haven recently installed six red-light cameras and one speed camera, though none of these seven cameras are yet operational. “We are preparing to begin our [30-day] warning period on September 15^th, as we work to ensure all regulatory signs are installed and visible near each of these cameras,” Elicker said in a statement provided to the Independent on Wednesday.

The newly installed — but not yet operational — red-light cameras are located at:

• College Street and George Street
• South Frontage Road and Park Street
• Orange Street and Edwards Street
• Prospect Street and Highland Street
• Quinnipiac Avenue and East Grand Avenue
• MLK Jr. Boulevard/N. Frontage Road and Church Street

The newly installed but not yet operational speed camera is located at Sherman Parkway for the Hillhouse school zone.

Elicker said that the city has also submitted “encroachment permits” to the CT DOT for eight other locations where traffic cameras will be installed “on a rolling basis.”

Those include future red-light-camera spots at:

• Ella T. Grasso Boulevard and Derby Avenue
• Ella T. Grasso Boulevard and Washington Avenue
• Whalley Avenue and East Ramsdell Street
• Quinnipiac Avenue and Foxon Boulevard
• The I-95 South Off Ramp by Main Street Annex and Woodward Avenue

They also include future speed-camera spots at:

• Fountain Street for the Davis Academy school zone
• Townsend Avenue for the Nathan Hale school zone
• Rt. 80 for the Ross Woodward and Bishop Woods school zones

“While we have been making progress in improving roadway safety, there are still too many injuries and fatalities from reckless drivers who blow through red lights and speed past our school buildings, endangering the lives of our students and families,” Elicker said in Wednesday’s email statement. “These cameras will be a critical tool in helping to protect New Haveners from irresponsible drivers who show blatant disregard for our laws and the safety of our residents.”

The rollout of this long-in-the-works traffic-camera program comes as the city has already set up a similar camera-and-fine program for the city’s school buses.

This new traffic-camera program also comes as Gov. Ned Lamont has called on municipalities across Connecticut to “immediately pause the installation of any new cameras and ALPRs,” or automated license plate readers, until the Connecticut Police Officers Standards and Training Council conducts a review of the increased use of such cameras.

Lamont issued that call in a public letter sent out on Aug. 7. A spokesperson for Lamont confirmed on Thursday that the governor’s position on the matter has not changed over the past month.