Norwich Safe Communities Coalition

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School Zones Fines for speeding are doubled on sections of road designated as "School Safety Zones." Such zones are demarcated by highly visible road signs and serve as a safety reminder to drivers as well as a deterrent to speeding. In 2001, the Norwich Safe Communities Coalition in cooperation with the Norwich Police Department, undertook a program to achieve designation of the roads next to all schools in the city (public, private, and parochial) as "School Safety Zones." Local streets adjacent to schools can be designated as school zones by the local traffic authority, and Chief of Police Louis Fusaro was able to accomplish this. However, schools in Norwich located on state roads required approval of the Connecticut State Traffic Commission (STC) in order to receive "school zone" designation. A resolution by Norwich City Council was required to make the request to the State Traffic Commission for school zone designation adjacent to Norwich Free Academy and the Bishop, Huntington, and Buckingham elementary schools. The Norwich Safe Communities Coalition was active in seeking this approval using coverage in newspapers and on television news as well as behind-the-scenes political contacts. Approval was eventually obtained from the STC. Other communities can refer to the statutes regarding school zones to achieve this designation.