In the event the penalty is not paid within 14 days following the date of the violation, said penalty will double. Payment may be made in person at the Police Department (9 Campus Drive) or by mail. Checks are made payable to "Town of Madison". If payment is not received within thirty (30) days, an Infraction Ticket shall be issued to the last registered owner of the motor vehicle. An Infraction Fine could be up to an additional $77.00 and is payable to the State of Connecticut, in addition to the parking fine of $50.00.

Appeals in writing may be made to the Town Appeals Hearing Officer, Mr. Flannigan Smith, at 9 Campus Drive. Persons disputing their parking violation must appear in person; they will be notified as to the date of the next monthly hearing which is held at the Police Department's Community Room at 7:00 PM.

COMPLAINTS CONCERNING PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS

Rules and concerns regarding joggers, walkers and bicyclists on public roads

Each year the Madison Police receive numerous complaints from motorists concerning pedestrians and bicycles in the roadway.

The travel portions of the town and state roads and highways are intended for the use of motor vehicle traffic. Pedestrians and bicycles do not have the right of way in these areas. Use the area between the white lines and the paved edge of the road if you are not traveling in a motor vehicle. If you must cross a road on foot or on a bike, you must be sure that no motor vehicles are approaching and cross directly perpendicular to the road, taking the shortest distance across. If motor vehicles are being forced to stop for you to cross, you are crossing improperly, (see CT. General Statute #14-300b). This does not apply if you are in a designated crosswalk or if a motorist sees you on the roadside and motions you across.

If you are walking, jogging, roller-blading, biking or riding a moped along the length of a road you must stay to the side of the road and must stay in a single file, out of the travel portion of the road, when approached by a motor vehicle. If you do not do this you will be in violation of the law and could be given a citation for improper use of a roadway by a pedestrian, cyclist, etc, (see CT. General Statute #14-300c and d).

Pedestrians and cyclists traveling abreast of each other usually wind up out into the travel section of the roadway. This is one of our biggest complaints from motorists. By doing this you often force motor vehicles to have to travel into the opposite lane of traffic in order to drive around you

Make sure children do not play games, etc, in the streets. There are often toys, bikes, big-wheels, hockey sticks, balls, skate board ramps, etc, lying unattended in the roadway - this is illegal and could make you liable if an accident is caused.

Advise your trash hauling service to properly secure your trashcans and lids after they perform their service so the cans and lids do not blow into the street.

There is a new Public Act #00-70(f) (State of Connecticut Substitute House Bill #5615), Concerning Right Turns When Passing A Bicyclist: "No person operating a motor vehicle who overtakes and passes a person riding a bicycle and proceeding in the same direction shall make a right turn at any intersection or into any private road or driveway unless the turn can be made with reasonable safety and will not impede the travel of the person riding the bicycle." Violations of any provisions of this section shall be an infraction.

Beginning Teenage Drivers

Beginning Drivers' Crashes Differ

Teen drivers have the highest crash risk of any age group. Per mile traveled, they have the highest involvement rates in all types of crashes, from those involving only property damage to those that are fatal. The problem is worst among 16 year-olds, who have the most limited driving experience and an immaturity that often results in risk-taking behind the wheel. The characteristics of 16 year-olds' fatal crashes highlight these problems:

Percentage of Fatal Crashes by Characteristic, 1998

Driver Age:	16	17-19	20-49
Driver Error	80	75	62
Speeding	36	31	22
Single Vehicle	41	37	30
3+ Occupants	33	26	19
Drivers killed with 0.01+BAC	8	25	47

Driver Error: Compared with crashes of older drivers, those of 16 year-olds more often involve driver error.

Speeding: Sixteen-year-old drivers have a higher rate of crashes in which excessive speed is a factor.

Single-Vehicle Crashes: More of 16 year-olds' fatal crashes involve only the teen's vehicle. Typically these are high-speed crashes in which the driver lost control.

Passengers: Sixteen year-olds' fatal crashes are more likely to occur when other teenagers are in the car. The risk increases with every additional passenger.

Alcohol: Although this is a problem among drivers of all ages, it's actually less of a problem for 16 year-olds. Thirteen percent of fatally injured drivers in 1998 had positive blood alcohol concentrations (BACs). Only 8% had BACs of 0.01 % or greater.

Night Driving: This is a high-risk activity for beginners. Per mile driven, the nighttime fatal crash rate for 16 year-olds is about twice as high as during the day.

Low Belt Use: Teenagers are generally less likely than adults to use safety belts.

What Parents of Teenagers Can Do

Don't Rely Solely on Driver Education

High school driver education doesn't produce safer drivers. Poor skills aren't always to blame for teens' crashes. Their attitudes and decision-making skills matter more. Peer pressure influences them more than advice from adults. Training and education don't change these tendencies.

Restrict Night Driving

Most nighttime fatal crashes among young drivers occur between 9:00 PM and midnight. Outings late at night tend to be recreational. In these circumstances, even teens who usually follow all the rules can be easily distracted or encouraged to take risks.

Restrict Passengers

Teen passengers in a vehicle can distract a beginning driver and/or lead to greater risk. Almost two of every three teen passenger deaths (62%) occur in crashes with a teen driver. The best policy is to restrict teen passengers, especially multiple teens, all the time.

Supervise Practice Driving

Plan a series of practice sessions in a wide variety of situations, including nigh driving. Give beginners time to work up to challenges like driving in heavy traffic or on the turnpike. Supervised practice should be spread over at least six months and continue even after a teenager graduates from a learner's permit to a full license.

Remember…You Are A Role Model

Teens with crashes and violations often have parents with poor driving records.

Require Safety Belt Use

Seat belt use is lower among teenagers than older people. Insist on belts all the time.

Prohibit Driving After Drinking

Make it clear that it's illegal and highly dangerous for a teenager to drive rafter drinking alcohol or using any other drug. While alcohol isn't a factor in most crashes of 16-year old drivers, even small amounts of alcohol are impairing for teens.

Choose Vehicles for Safety, Not Image

Teenagers should drive vehicles that reduce their chances of a crash and offer protection in case they do crash. For example, small cars don't offer the best protection in a crash. Avoid cars with a performance image that might encourage speeding. Avoid trucks and sport utility vehicles - the smaller ones, especially, are more prone to roll over.

Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

For further information please visit: http://www.highwaysafety.org