Milford Aldermen Take Action On Controversial Camera Programs

MILFORD, CT — Milford aldermen approved two resolutions Thursday night that will pause the city's automated traffic enforcement cameras and establish additional review and oversight of its automated license plate reader program.

The votes came after several hours of public comment and debate during a special Board of Aldermen meeting called specifically to address the controversial camera technology. Protesters also interrupted the highly contentious meeting frequently.

The first resolution, dealing with automated traffic enforcement safety devices, passed 10-4. It places a moratorium on the city's speed and red-light camera program while officials review it.

The resolution was amended during the meeting to establish a timeline for a technology review committee and make termination of the program one of the options to be considered.

Alderman Toni Lombardi said the immediate pause was important even though she supports going further and banning the cameras.

"I want you to understand if we do nothing tonight, if we vote down (the resolution), the cameras will stay on," Lombardi said. "We will not pause them. They will keep going." She added that she supports a ban but also wanted to "shut the damn things off right now."

However, others said the city's actions aren't going far enough.

“I do believe that we need a full ban on this,” Alderman Kal Ali said.

The second resolution addressed Milford's automated license plate readers.

After multiple proposed amendments and lengthy debate, the board approved the resolution with amendments by a 9-5 vote.

The measure calls for reducing fixed license plate readers so they are located only at points of entry into Milford and includes a seven-day data retention policy, along with a process for potentially creating restrictions on how the technology is used.

Some believed the final measure was insufficient. Alderman Winthrop Smith III argued that the board should have terminated the cameras rather than establish additional reviews.

"What we tried to do here was terminate the cameras, hard stop — voted down," Smith said. "We attempted to do something real, something material."

See the full meeting by clicking here.

The votes followed Mayor Rich Smith's announcement Wednesday that he was recommending significant changes to both programs. Smith proposed suspending automated traffic enforcement devices while the city reviews issues including enforcement hours, fines and citation procedures. He also directed the suspension of license plate readers except those at city entry points.

Related: Milford Mayor Makes Major Announcement On License Plate, Traffic Cameras

The camera programs have generated significant public opposition in recent months, particularly over privacy, data collection and the use of Flock Safety license plate readers. Residents have packed several meetings and forums to argue for their removal, while Police Chief Keith Mello has defended the technology as a tool for finding stolen vehicles and investigating serious crimes.

In response to the city's move to curtail the camera programs, the Milford police union has filed a complaint and petition for interim relief with the state's Board of Labor Relations.

The complaint states that the city is "engaging in prohibited practices" in its attempts to limit the camera surveillance systems.

"The (license plater readers) and Flock Camera Systems provide essential officer safety enhancements and features," the complaint reads.

Those features include identification of felons, people wanted by law enforcement, stolen vehicles and weapon/firearm identification.

The complaint goes on to say that the city should be required "to bargain with the union the impact its proposed change may have on the bargaining unit member's safety and working conditions."

Read the full complaint by clicking here.