New Haven Police Announce Drag Racing Initiative
New Haven| On Saturday, August 22, 2020, the New Haven Police Department began enhanced enforcement of motor vehicle laws for drag racing. The enforcement was aimed at those motor vehicle operators and participants who engage in street racing, reckless driving, and illegal obstruction of city streets.
During the effort, which began at sunset and went into the overnight, uniformed and plainclothes officers and detectives monitored areas of the city where drag racing has been reported or known to occur. Law enforcement personnel shut down motor vehicle traffic and took enforcement action whenever racing started.
Assistant Chief of Operations Renee Dominguez said, “Our efforts are in response to citizen complaints and public safety concerns for other motorists, pedestrian spectators, and the drag racers themselves. This weekend’s enforcement resulted in no reported injuries to the motoring public, racers, or our officers.”
One city resident complainant from the Foxon Boulevard (Route 80) and Quinnipiac Avenue area recently wrote, “But when you can’t have a conversation on the side porch in the afternoon because of the frequent roar of loud cycles and cars, and then the weekend late night noise that disrupts the peace and quiet of the area, we believe it is our obligation not to surrender our streets.”
While officers monitored Foxon Boulevard and other locations this weekend, most of enforcement was conducted when racers gathered near a Sargent Drive gas station; on a portion of Ella Grasso Boulevard in the Hill section of New Haven; and near Fort Hale Park.
Whenever possible, officers made arrests by issuing misdemeanor summonses rather than by making custodial arrests. This weekend’s enforcement resulted in the following:
- 16 misdemeanor summonses.
- 18 infraction tickets.
- Nine vehicles towed.
- Two custodial arrests.
- One arrest warrant served.
- Five drug arrests.
NHPD Chief Otoniel Reyes added, “We are committed to addressing this quality of life issue in a safe manner that fits within our department policies and holds violators accountable. We will increase our enforcement efforts to include use of noise meters, window tint meters, and additional speed enforcement devices
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