HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — At the state Capitol on Friday, lawmakers heard testimony on two bills that would have an impact on law enforcement patrolling Connecticut roadways.
One bill aims to crack down on occurrences of so-called “street takeovers.” Connecticut’s cities and towns have seen a proliferation of the takeovers, which typically involve dozens of motor bikes and other vehicles recklessly occupying entire streets. “Street takeovers” have alarmed local officials, who have in turn encouraged lawmakers to empower law enforcement with additional tools to go after those who perpetuate the roadway disturbances.
Lawmakers have proposed suspending the licenses of those involved and doing more to take the vehicles used in “street takeovers” off the street for good.
“It gives municipalities more ability to do certain things with the vehicles being used in them when they seize them,” State Rep. Greg Howard, a Republican member of the legislature’s Judiciary Committee, said of the proposed bill. “What they don’t want to do is auction them off back into the communities, so this gives them the opportunity to destroy them.”
Justin Elicker, the mayor of New Haven, testified before the Judiciary Committee. He told lawmakers the street takeover legislation would be “very, very helpful to us.”
State Sen. Gary Winfield, the Judiciary Committee’s co-chair, said updates to the state’s laws are necessary to combat street takeovers.
“As folks may know, we have some laws on the books, but they don’t seem to take care of that problem,” Winfield said.
While Democrats like Winfield and Republicans like Howard generally agree on the need to do more to crack down on street takeovers, they disagree on another bill that would impact law enforcement on Connecticut roadways.
Winfield is a proponent of a bill to limit so-called “non-safety” traffic stops. In other words, Winfield and many of his fellow Democrats want to add to existing restrictions on the reasons police may cite when pulling a car over. Notably, the “non-safety” traffic stops bill would stop police from pulling over a car with one inoperable headlight.
Winfield said the changes would prevent individuals from being engaged by police simply because they cannot afford to repair their headlight.
“If you had the money, we would just let you drive right on by,” Winfield said.
But Howard characterized the “non-safety” traffic stops bill as just the latest in a string of proposals intended to tie the hands of law enforcement.
“What it does is it sends another message to 9,000 law enforcement officers in Connecticut that your legislature, the voice of the people, doesn’t want you out stopping cars,” Howard said, arguing that a lack of enforcement has led to a particularly deadly span of years on state roadways.
CREDIT: News 8 WTNH Mike Cerulli
