New Jersey is known for many things – not the least of which is the amount of cars and traffic on our roads. Whether you live in the state or are passing through, you are likely familiar with the congestion that can be found on any of the Garden State’s many highways at any given point in time. Countless drivers use New Jersey roads every day, for work or pleasure, and, in the summer, many of those drivers can be found in Monmouth and Ocean counties on the way to the Jersey Shore.
In a recent announcement, townships throughout New Jersey have decided to join together and crack down on dangerous driving along state highways – particularly in Monmouth and Ocean counties – in response to reports that show an increase in crashes and motor vehicle fatalities in recent years. The initiative, which has been referred to as a Traffic Safety/Enforcement Initiative, has been championed by Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato, but will involve at least seven (7) municipal jurisdictions along Highway Route 70 in Ocean and Monmouth County, including:
- Brielle Borough (Monmouth County)
- Brick Township (Ocean County)
- Lakewood Township (Ocean County)
- Toms River Township (Ocean County)
- Manchester Township (Ocean County)
- Lakehurst Borough (Ocean County)
- Wall Township (Monmouth County)
New Jersey State Highway Route 70
Route 70 is a nearly 60-mile long highway extending from Pennsauken Township in Camden County to Wall Township in Monmouth County. At its widest, it is a six-lane roadway, but is only two lanes wide at many areas. According to official statistics, there were 548 motor vehicle crashes on Rt. 70 in 2016. Of the crashes that occurred within Ocean County, 4-out-of-41 or 10% were fatal. In 2017, the percentage of fatalities rose to 19%.
The Traffic Safety / Enforcement Initiative
The official safety action will be conducted in three phases: engineering, education and enforcement. The plan is being supported by the Police Departments of all the previously mentioned towns and boroughs, as well as by New Jersey State Police Tactical Patrol Units and the DUI Enforcement Patrol Unit.
Officers have been instructed to specifically be on the look-out for signs of drunk driving or driving while under the influence. There also will be an automated license plate reader in use to identify those driving illegally on a suspended or restricted license. Any kind of suspicious or illegal activity on the roads could lead to a driver being pulled over, including:
- Aggressive Driving
- Improper Turning
- Failure to Yield
- Failure to Keep Right
- Improper Passing
- Inattentive Driving
- Disregarding Traffic Signals
- Speeding
- Following Too Close
Police officers will also be looking for commercial vehicle violations such as overweight, equipment maintenance and brake pressure.
If a police officer pulls a driver over for a legitimate reason, such as one of the motor vehicle violations listed above, the driver might be arrested and charged with DUI or DWI if there is enough evidence for the officer to reasonably suspect that the driver has been operating the vehicle while impaired.
Similar enforcement partnerships have also been put in place on Routes 539, 528, 35 and 37.
New Jersey Drunk Driving Lawyer Edward M. Janzekovich Is Here To Help Defendants Charged with DUI Violations
Whether you live in New Jersey or are driving through the state, if you or someone you know is charged for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs on a New Jersey roadway or highway, you want an experienced NJ DUI/DWI attorney who can help. A good lawyer can make all the difference. To speak with an experienced New Jersey DWI lawyer about your situation, call us at 732-257-1137 or contact us online today. We serve clients throughout the state of New Jersey.