Connecticut Roads See Speed Surge – Where Are the Cops?

Why are There So Many Super-Speeders in Connecticut?

I see it every day on my drive to work in Connecticut—someone flying by at what has to be over 100 mph. I don’t have any official equipment to measure that, but when you’re doing 75 and a car passes you in a blur, you don’t need a radar gun to know they’re way over the limit.

Once I get to work, I start combing through news sources, press releases, and message boards to find stories that will connect with our Connecticut readers. Every single day (and that’s no exaggeration), I check the Connecticut State Police press releases—and every day, there’s at least one report of someone being arrested for driving well over 100 mph on our roads.

Not long ago, we had Connecticut Attorney General William Tong in the I-95 Morning Show studio. One of the first things he said to me was, “Hey, you’ve got four kids? Did I hear that right?” When I said yes, he followed up with something that stuck with me: “We’re working on ways to crack down on drivers in Connecticut doing over 100 mph—to make the roads safer for your kids.”

Lawmakers are beginning to take action. In December 2024, WTNH reported that State Rep. Irene Haines is drafting legislation aimed at drivers exceeding 100 mph. The proposed bill would introduce tougher penalties in response to growing concerns from law enforcement, who say current measures just aren’t working.

Does Anyone Notice People in CT Driving Over 100 mph?

It’s not just lawmakers, state officials, and police who are noticing the rise in aggressive driving across Connecticut—everyone seems to be talking about it. A recent post on the Connecticut subreddit by user u/ghazzie captured what many residents are feeling:

“Is it just me, or does it seem like CT cops rarely pull people over for speeding?”

“I don’t know if it’s just me, but I’ve started asking people and a lot of them agree. I’ve lived all over the country, and it feels like CT cops only pull drivers over if they’re going at a completely ridiculous speed. Honestly, I kind of appreciate it. Does anyone else agree or disagree?”

The comment sparked a discussion among residents; here are some of my favorite responses:

mkt853: CSP says it is focusing on extreme speeding of 100+, and you will hear them often say just go with the flow of traffic and maintain a safe distance. The thing that catches their eye is if you are lane to lane/driving erratically. If you're going 80 and not riding someone's tail and everyone else is doing the same, they are unlikely to come after you. The guy who is weaving through traffic because 80 isn't good enough, that's the one that might draw some unwanted attention. Besides, given the amount of traffic in this state, you are lucky if you can even go the speed limit.

thinkingwhynot: Those weaving in and out piss me off. Even when I was a kid, I wasn’t that reckless. Speeding sure but in and out of traffic is stupid. Some people haven’t had a serious accident, and it shows. Problem is when they do, they hurt or kill innocents while they walk away. I love being in the middle next to someone in the left and people tail gating or swerving trying to get around. I'm expendable but my children are not. They need to target those a-holes.

Bastiat_sea: There's less than 900 officers as of 2022, so it's not surprising there aren't many on speed traps. They must have their hands full with the constant construction projects.

jrblockquote: This is 100% accurate. I moved here from upstate NY about 25 years ago and one of the first things I noticed was the lack of speed enforcement. There are cops everywhere in New York. I once got pulled over three times in one evening for having a headlight out. I used to work in Enfield and drove daily at about 80 and never worried about getting pulled over. In NY, I would be on the lookout for cops sitting and rolling.

I loved that comment from JR Block Quote. As someone originally from New York, I can relate—you’re constantly getting “lit up” in the Empire State, but almost never here in Connecticut. Now, I’m not saying I want to make getting pulled over a regular thing for any of us. But there’s got to be a middle ground between the kind of reckless driving we’re seeing in the Nutmeg State and the near-police-state vibe in New York. Is that too reasonable a point for it to land?

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Why Do You Get So Many Tickets in New York?

P.S. Brewster/Southeast, NY is the worst—and I say that as someone who’s originally from there. I feel totally comfortable being critical of my hometown, because honestly, it needs to be said. You can be a skilled, cautious driver with a spotless record and still end up pulled over and ticketed for what feels like nothing.

The reason? That small area is saturated with law enforcement. You’ve got New York State Troopers, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, and the Village of Brewster Police all patrolling within a few miles of each other. Sure, they each have their own jurisdiction—but tell that to a driver just trying to get through town.

To paint the picture let’s say you leave Colonial Square, head down Route 22, hop on I-684 for less than two-tenths of a mile, then take Exit 10 into the Village of Brewster. That incredibly short stretch of road can put you in front of a State Trooper, a Sheriff’s deputy, and a Village cop—all before you’ve even hit Main Street. I said it, AGAIN!