MIDDLETOWN — A digital sign outside St. George’s School now reads:
“6 MORE TICKETS UNTIL LOBSTER NIGHT.”
Under an agreement with the Town of Middletown, a portion of proceeds from citations issued by the speed camera on Purgatory Road will fund periodic lobster dinners in the school dining hall, officials confirmed.
Town officials described the arrangement as “an added behavioral deterrent,” noting that motorists may think twice about accelerating if they know their citation will directly finance lobster for boarding students at the elite prep school.
Not everyone loves the idea.
“They’re taking hard-earned cash out of working people’s pockets and handing it straight to the one percent,” said Middletown resident Steve Donald Ventura, who recently received a citation. “I’m trying to get to work in my pickup, and some brat in a Barbour jacket gets surf and turf on my dime?”
The plan was approved by a joint committee of students, faculty, administrators, and town representatives. School officials defended the program, noting that even St. George’s operates within financial constraints.
“Unlike many think, we don’t have all the money in the world — just a lot of it,” said a spokesperson. “Prior to the camera partnership, full lobster service was limited to once a semester. We had to settle for salmon.”
Each citation also includes an automatic raffle entry. Twice per semester, two ticketed drivers will be selected to attend the lobster dinner as “community stakeholders.”
In response, a Facebook group has begun organizing local motorists to strictly observe the speed limit in protest. Membership is growing, though town officials noted that tourist traffic “is where the real money is.”
Administrators also confirmed they are addressing reports that some upperclassmen were using their own vehicles to intentionally trigger citations to accelerate lobster service.
“Frankly, it undermines the spirit of the thing,” the spokesperson said. “Therefore, speeding tickets will not be issued to vehicles registered to St. George’s students or their parents. This keeps things fair.”
The speed camera on Purgatory Road continues to operate around the clock. The sign outside St. George’s was updated Friday morning.
It now reads: “4 MORE TICKETS UNTIL LOBSTER NIGHT.”