Somerville City Councilors are asking the Police Department to write more tickets to traffic violators instead of merely issuing warnings. ~Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Harry Kane

City Councilors want drivers to obey traffic laws and regulations, so they have asked the Somerville Police Department to issue more tickets and fewer warnings.

An order was put forward by President and Ward 3 City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen that the Chief of Police resume the practice of issuing tickets rather than warnings for serious moving violations that endanger public safety, including speeding and running red lights.

“Dangerous driving is one of the single most pressing public health dangers in the city,” said Councilor Ewen-Campen.

Making streets safer is a top priority. And redesigning the roads is in the works, he said during the September 26 City Council meeting.

There have been many traffic calming solutions and crosswalk infrastructure additions that have led to “meaningful outcomes,” he added.

In 2023, Somerville installed 56 traffic calming treatments including curb extensions, speed humps, raised crosswalks and more. Over 400 crosswalk improvements were added last calendar year, according to the 2023 Somerville Pedestrian & Transit Advisory Committee’s annual report.

In addition to the infrastructure updates, Councilor Ewen-Campen said that police enforcement is the way to maintain safety for pedestrians and drivers.

Of the 901 stops for speeding in 2023, 44 were actual tickets and the rest were marked as warnings, said Councilor Ewen-Campen.

The traffic enforcement data was calculated by a Somerville resident with “quantitative know-how.” Roughly 95 percent of the police stops for speeding resulted in a warning, according to published SPD datasets that the City released publicly.

“I was really struck by the 95 percent number,” said Councilor Ewen-Campen.

It’s a similar percentage for other moving violations, he added.

Some of these stops may be for minor speed violations so the percentage data may not accurately depict the number of monetary citations that would have been issued if ticketing for speeding was fully-enforced.

According to Councilor Ewen-Campen, there has been increased reckless driving, such as driving the wrong way on one-way streets, blowing through red lights and driving at dangerous speeds.

“I don’t think any of us can pretend that we can ticket our way out of this,” he said.

Councilor Ewen-Campen said the Councilors would have a conversation with the new Chief of Police Shumeane Benford and staff analysts to enforce these violations with more serious consequences.

“We [can] take a look at the most dangerous kind of driving behaviors, the things that could really hurt or kill residents,” said Councilor Ewen-Campen.

City Councilor-At-Large Jake Wilson added his viewpoint and assessment of the ongoing issue.

“Infrastructure improvements have shown to be the best practice in the long run,” said Councilor Wilson.

The installation of speed humps on Meacham Street and other transit-friendly solutions such extending green lights at Davis Square were brought up later in the City Council meeting.

“Drivers just increasingly fear no consequence for their behavior behind the wheel,” said Councilman Wilson. “Our focus for educational warnings, while well-intentioned, just doesn’t seem to be working.”

Ward 1 City Councilor Matthew McLaughlin weighed in by reiterating the sentiment. “There is a lack of fear of consequences. There are people scoffing at a lot of laws in this city, and I think people are rightfully confused what laws are enforced and what laws are not enforced,” said Councilor Matthew McLaughlin.