Traffic was and still is the #1 surveyed concern of Manchester residents. Therefore, the Manchester Police Department created Citizens' Initiated Traffic Enforcement otherwise known as CITE. This community and police partnership is designed to act as a community resource in addressing Manchester's biggest concern...Traffic! Initially this program started out with only a handful of dedicated civilian volunteers. Over the past couple of years this program has grown into an active and dedicated thirty-member quality of life program. The goal of CITE is to create a safe motoring environment in Manchester through traffic observation, education, and guided selective enforcement.

The Manchester Police Department Traffic Unit oversees CITE and its volunteers. All volunteers are recruited from the ever-expanding pool of Manchester Citizen Police Academy graduates. Traffic Unit personnel train CITE volunteers in the usage of Doppler Radar and speed observation, as well as stop sign and traffic light violations. In addition, CITE volunteers are responsible for deploying the Police Department's three Smart Trailers. These trailers are used to gather speed/dates/times as well as to educate motorist about safe and proper motoring speeds. Further, monthly meetings are held between CITE volunteers and a Traffic Unit representative. These meetings are used to update CITE volunteers on citizen traffic concerns, training, operations, and equipment. CITE volunteers are civilians who offer their valuable time to help improve motoring habits on Manchester roadways. These volunteers are not sworn members of the Police Department; therefore they do not make arrests or issue tickets in relation to the motor vehicle violations they observe.

CITE volunteers utilize authorized Police Department vehicles and radar to patrol sections of Manchester that are experiencing traffic related problems (i.e., speeding). The Traffic Unit pre-selects CITE patrol areas. The information gathered from these patrols is used to aid in confirming or refuting some citizens traffic concerns. In addition, this information can be used by the Police Department to aid in determining when and where to send out resources (i.e., Patrol & Traffic Officers) for selective traffic enforcement. CITE volunteers gather offending vehicle makes & models along with their registration plates. A member of the Traffic Unit verifies the gathered information. When the information is verified, a letter can be generated and mailed to the offending vehicle's registered owner. This letter is designed to alert and educate the registered owner. The registered owner is informed that their vehicle was seen operating in a manner, which constitutes a violation and adds to Manchester's #1 concern...Traffic.

Please remember that in order to become a volunteer member of CITE, you must first graduate from the Manchester Citizens' Police Academy (16-week educational program). If you would like more information on CITE please call Officer Paul Gilligan at 645-5560 or email paulg@ci.manchester.ct.us. Also, feel free to contact the Town of Manchester General Manager and Chief of Police with your comments about CITE.

Please remember these famous words of civic inspiration..." Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country" (President John F. Kennedy).

For further information Click here Reminder