Westport PD Participates in Distracted Driving Campaign

The Westport Police Department is participating in the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s high visibility distracted driving enforcement campaign.  In partnership with State and local law enforcement and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the campaign will increase efforts to enforce distracted-driving laws.  This campaign will run from October 15th to October 31st, 2022.

Distracted driving is an activity that diverts attention from driving and even a momentary distraction can lead to disastrous results.  In 2020, according to the NHTSA, distracted driving was a factor in over 8% of fatal car crashes.  Further, the NHTSA reported that roughly 20% of injuries occurring in motor vehicle accidents involved distracted driving.

Connecticut law prohibits the use of any hand-held mobile device while operating a motor vehicle.  Drivers who are currently 16 or 17 years old are prohibited from using a cell phone or mobile device at any time, even hands free.  

Violating Connecticut’s distracted-driving laws can also be very costly.  Drivers who are ticketed are fined $200.00 for the first offense, $375.00 for the second offense, and $625.00 for the third and subsequent offenses.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation along with the Westport Police urges you to put your phone down when you get behind the wheel.  Should you need to use your phone prior to reaching your destination, please pull over to a safe location first.

Morning Weather Report

Today

A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 8am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 68. West wind around 9 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 47. Calm wind.

Tomorrow

Sunny, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.

Tomorrow Night

Increasing clouds, with a low around 50. South wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Westporter Organizes Fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization

Press Release

The annual Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut’s Mentor’s Classic Golf Tournament was held this year at the historic Tamarack Golf Club in Greenwich. Pictured at the daylong event are, from left, Westport resident Joe Massoud, Managing Director at Westport-based Anholt Services (USA) Inc; Andy Fleischmann, President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut; and Peter Lovell, who lives in Milford and is a Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Odyssey Re in Stamford. Joe Massoud, a Board Member at Big Brothers Big Sisters and a current Big Brother (volunteer mentor) in the organization’s community-based program, was on the Mentor’s Classic organizing committee. He was also one of the event’s Emerald Sponsors. Peter Lovell also served on the event’s organizing committee. Lovell was a former Big Brothers Big Sisters Board Member, and a onetime Big Brother.

DPW Announces Main Street Closure Next Week for Paving

Public Works Director Peter Ratkiewich announced today that Main Street between Post Road and Avery Place and Avery Place between Main Street and Myrtle Avenue will be milled and paved beginning on Monday, October 17, weather permitting.  Due to the nature of the congested area, Main Street will be closed to thru-traffic and parking starting at 5:00 AM and Avery Place will be closed to thru-traffic beginning at approximately 10:00 AM on October 17.  Once road milling is complete, both roads will be re-opened to traffic until paving operations begin.

Paving of the two roads is currently scheduled for Tuesday, October 18. It will follow the same schedule as milling. However,  a potential weather system may postpone paving until Wednesday, October 19.

Ratkiewich said “We will try our best to inform the Downtown Association and any affected residential tenants with street postings and message boards. We appreciate the cooperation of our residents and downtown businesses so that we can get this work done quickly and efficiently”

Motorists are advised to use caution and allow extra travel time in the Downtown area.