Supervision
of school crossing guards and key pedestrian crossing areas within
the school district and city.
Monitoring schools for parking
violations and safety of our children around the school area.
Assist in serious injury and fatal
motor vehicle
accidents.
Review of road closures for
construction details such as PSE&G, Verizon and paving contractors.
Assist DPW workers with traffic light
repairs, sign replacement programs and sewer issues.
Coordinate parade routes for traffic
safety and detours.
Funeral and dignitary escorts.
Radar and DWI Enforcement details.
Radar instruction and
re-certification.
Traffic Enforcement
How To
Avoid That Traffic Ticket!
You look in the rearview/side
view mirror and see flashing red lights and hear the blast of a siren. You
realize that the police car approaching from behind is after
you. You feel that sudden sickening sense and may even wonder,
“What did I do?” But the simple fact of the matter is that you
are being stopped by the police–now what do you do?
The scenario above is experienced
every day by thousands of New Jersey motorists. Generally
speaking, it is rare that a day goes by when each of us, as a
driver, does not commit a “technical” violation of the New
Jersey Traffic Laws. After all, there are more than a thousand
subsections of this code. Although most are definitive in
nature, hundreds are sections that lead to enforcement actions
such as traffic tickets.
First, it is important to
recognize that even the best drivers commit driving errors and
those errors can occur for many reasons. Most drivers do not
intentionally violate the law. Quite the contrary, people
generally obey the rules of the road; however, a momentary
distraction, perhaps being lost or unfamiliar with the roadway
in a particular city, or thinking about getting to that next
appointment can divert your concentration just enough to make a
mistake. We all know the old saying, “There is never a police
officer around when you want one.” Well, we can add another
saying, “There is always a police officer around when I make a
driving mistake.”
So let’s get down to the
basics–you do not want a ticket! When the police officer pulls
behind you and you see the emergency lights, the law requires
that you immediately pull to the right-hand edge of the roadway,
clear of any intersection, and yield to the emergency vehicle.
You must pull over as quickly and safely as you can. If the
officer wants you to stop elsewhere, he or she will direct you
to another location. Sometimes this direction is given by the
officer using the public address system located in the police
car, and occasionally the officer may give you hand signals
directing you where to stop. This is not an attempt to embarrass
you; it is merely a desire to find the safest place for both of
you to stop.
The officer will approach in a
manner that will promote the maximum safety for him or her. When
the officer first makes contact, he or she will usually ask for
your driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance. The
law requires that you have each of these items in your immediate
possession and that you present them upon request by an officer.
The law further states that if you do not have your license or
“other satisfactory evidence of identification,” you are subject
to physical arrest. It cannot be stressed enough how important
it is that you have your identification with you while driving.
Officers are not going to allow you to go home to get your
identification, nor will they wait for a friend, family member,
or associate, to bring your license to the location of the stop.
The officers will enforce what the law requires for those who
drive without proper identification and/or suspended licenses
and that is in all probability to place you under arrest. Now, back to the actual stop.
With
the initial contact, the officer may tell you why you were
stopped, or may ask, “Do you know why I stopped you?” In either
instance, respond politely! If you do not know why you were
stopped, do not hesitate to ask. As we noted above, not everyone
is aware of what they may have done wrong to be pulled over by
the officer. A good example is if the officer stopped you
because your taillight burned out. You may not have been aware
that the light was not working. Keep in mind that you are being
contacted by a professional who sees this interaction with you
on a totally impersonal basis. The officer does not “have an axe
to grind,” does not “hate you,” is not “out to get you,” or
“does not have better things to do.” Quite the contrary, the
officer is just doing a part of his or her job. In fact, the
least desirable part of any police officer’s job is issuing
traffic citations. This is a critical fact to remember, because
the issuance of a traffic ticket is totally at the discretion of
the individual officer who stops you. Your odds of receiving a
verbal warning are the same as getting a ticket. So work to
shift the odds in your favor.
But how do you tilt the scale?
First, as mentioned earlier, be polite! If you believe you did
not commit a violation, then ask if you can explain yourself,
but do not argue. When you display courtesy and even acknowledge
the possibility of making a mistake, the officer may be more
inclined to believe the contact has been effective and feels a
warning is appropriate. If you have an excellent driving record,
do not be afraid to say so, officers recognize that a clean
record indicates a responsible driver. Be truthful. Remember, if
the officer runs your driving history through the computer and
finds that you have a long history of violations, he or she will
know you are lying and the odds will shift back to having the
citation being issued.
Many factors influence whether a
citation will or will not be issued. Violators who commit
“blatant” or hazardous violations are more likely to receive
tickets. Drivers who commit minor offenses, such as failing to
signal before changing lanes or turning, are very likely to walk
away with warnings if the officer perceives you to be
cooperative and responsive. But what is the absolute, best way
to avoid a ticket? Drive carefully! Obey the laws, and do not
rush. People in a hurry are more prone to commit violations than
anyone else. They take chances by speeding, not coming to full
stops at stop signs and signals, following other cars too
closely, and changing lanes unsafely.
The burden of safe driving falls
upon each individual who sits behind a steering wheel. Take the
time to periodically inspect your car to ensure the lights are
working and all of the safety devices are operational. Also,
think before you drive and drive responsibly. Although most of
us get irritated and upset if we are stopped, especially if we
receive a citation, it does not change the fact that the traffic
officer is simply trying to promote a safe environment for
everyone who uses the roads and highways. The officer would like
to make sure that you live to drive another day. Finally, you
will “avoid that ticket” if you remember the following: be
polite and courteous, be respectful, and take responsibility for
your driving actions.
Costly command:
"License and registration"
Those
whirling red/blue lights in the rearview mirror usually mean
just one thing: It's traffic ticket time. The worse the
violation, the more your car insurance costs may rise because
it's more likely you'll be considered a bigger risk to the
insurer. Rack up a combination of the nastiest violations plus a
few accidents, and insurers may even refuse to cover you, says
Loretta Worters, spokeswoman for the Insurance Information
Institute, a trade group.
It boils down to matching the premium you pay to your risk as a
customer, says State Farm spokesman Dick Luedke.
"Sometimes you get lucky and violate (traffic laws) a lot and
don't get caught, and sometimes you do it once, and you are
caught," he says. "That's why we use all sorts of other things
to measure risk as well." So it's tough to say how much your
insurance premiums will rise per violation. Different insurers
calculate premium costs differently, Worters says.
With the help of experts, including J. Robert Hunter, insurance
director for the Washington, D.C.-based Consumer Federation of
America, we now identify what are considered the five worst
traffic violations for your insurance bills.
DWI Enforcement Team
Motorists who drink and drive are involved in approximately 50% of fatal
collisions and an equal percentage of serious injury collisions. After 2
a.m., it is estimated that two of every four motorists on the road are driving under the influence of alcohol. These
disturbing statisticsreflect a dangerous trend on our roads that
the East Orange Police Department is determined to reverse.
To increase enforcement of DWI laws and send a
message to motorists who drink and drive, EOPD launched the DWI
Enforcement Team. The unit, which is under direction of the Traffic
Section, is comprised of six traffic officers and one sergeant. As a
dedicated DWI enforcement unit, the Enforcement Team is able to
concentrate its patrol efforts on apprehending drunk drivers.
Patrols focus on areas where DWI offenses are most likely to occur
(entertainment areas featuring bars and nightclubs, for example)
during times when most drunk drivers are on the roads (evenings,
weekends and holidays).
In addition, members of the Enforcement Team
are able to provide support to regular patrol officers during peak
offense times, relieving patrol officers by handling the lengthy
processing of arrests. The working relationship between regular
patrol and the Enforcement Team increases the efficiency of the
Department as a whole in removing drunk drivers from our roads. All
of our traffic enforcement vehicles are equipped with audio/video
cameras recording every motor vehicle stop to ensure integrity and
to protect the officers from false accusations.
Alcohol
Awareness
Definition
of Impairment
In New
Jersey, a person is guilty of drunk
driving if he/she operates a
Concentration
(BAC) of 0.08 (old BAC was 0.10%) percent or greater. BAC refers to the
amount of alcohol in your blood. Although the law refers to a 0.08
percent BAC, you can be convicted of driving while under the
influence of intoxicating liquor even when your BAC is below 0.08
percent. Consuming even small amounts of alcohol dulls the senses,
decreases reaction time, and hampers judgment, vision and alertness.
If you consume any amount of alcohol and your driving is affected,
you can be convicted of drunk driving.
New law
Enacted in 2000-
A new provision (Public Law 99, Chapter 410)
was added to New Jersey's driving under the influence laws and
penalties.
A parent or guardian who is convicted and who
has a minor under age 17 as a passenger in the motor vehicle is also
guilty of a disorderly persons offense.
In addition the penalties otherwise prescribed
by law, a person shall forfeit the right to operate a motor vehicle
for period of not more than six months and shall be ordered to
perform community service for a period of not more than 5 days.
First Offense a fine of $250-$400*
imprisonment for up to 30 days* 6 months to 1-year license
suspension* a minimum of 6 hours a day for 2 days detainment in an
Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC), at a charge of $75 a day
an automobile insurance surcharge of $1,000 a year for 3 years $100
surcharge to be deposited in a drunk driving enforcement fund a
Division of Motor Vehicles restoration fee of $50 and an Intoxicated
Driving Program fee of $100 a Violent Crimes Compensation Fund fee
of $50 a Safe and Secure Community Program fee of $75
Second Offense a fine of $500-$1,000*
imprisonment of at least 48 consecutive hours, and up to 90 days* 2
- year license suspension* 48 consecutive hours detainment in a
regional Intoxicated Driver Resource Center, at a charge of $100 a
day an automobile insurance surcharge of $1,000 a year for 3 years
$100 surcharge to be deposited in a drunk driving enforcement fund a
Division of Motor Vehicles restoration fee of $50 and an Intoxicated
Driving Program fee of $100 a Violent Crimes Compensation Fund fee
of $50 a Safe and Secure Community Program fee of $75
Third Offense a fine of $1,000* imprisonment
of 180 days 10 - year license suspension* detainment in an
in-patient alcoholism treatment program requirements set by the
Intoxicated Driving Program/Intoxicated Driver Resource Center a fee
to be paid to the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center dependent upon
court sentence an automobile insurance surcharge of $1,500 a year
for 3 years $100 surcharge to be deposited in a drunk driving
enforcement fund a Division of Motor Vehicles restoration fee of $50
and an Intoxicated Driving Program fee of $100 a Violent Crimes
Compensation Fund fee of $50 a Safe and Secure Community Program fee
of $75
Registration Revocation/Ignition Interlock
Addition to the penalties listed, judges may
order the installation of an ignition interlock device or the
revocation of vehicle registration (Public Law 2000, Chapter 83).
The ignition interlock device, which measures the driverÕs blood
alcohol level, may be required for up to three years following
license restoration after a DUI conviction.
Consequences of Underage Drinking and Driving -
In New Jersey, you must be 21 to purchase,
possess or consume alcoholic beverages. Underage drinking is illegal
and can have severe consequences for young people who drink and for
adults who provide alcoholic beverages to those under 21.
Buy or drink alcohol in a place with an
alcohol beverage license, and you may be fined $500 and lose your
license for 6 months. If you do not have your driver's license, the
suspension starts when you are first eligible to receive a license.
And you may be required to participate in an alcohol education or
treatment program.
If you are under 21 and drive with any
detectable amount of alcohol in your system (.08 BAC or above), you
will be subjected to the following penalties:
loss or postponement of driving privileges for
30 to 90 days 15 to 30 days of community service participation in a
program of alcohol education and highway safety * If occurring
within a school zone or school crossing, this penalty is increased
under Public Law 99 Chapter 185.
Seat
Belts... Why Buckle Up?
Studies show seat belts do save lives and
reduce injuries during crashes.
Seat belts work with air bags to protect
occupants. Air bags alone are not enough to safeguard occupants.
More than 2,000 unbuckled drivers and front
seat passengers died on New Jersey's roadways in the past 10 years.
Approximately 700 unbuckled drivers and front
seat passengers were thrown out of their vehicles during crashes and
killed in the past 10 years.
New
Jersey’s Seat Belt Law: (NJS 39:3-7.2F)
Applies to all passenger vehicles including
vans, pickup trucks and SUV's, that are required to be equipped with
seat belts.
Applies to all passengers, who are at least 8
years of age but less than 18 years of age, and each driver and
front seat passenger of a passenger automobile, operated on a street
or highway. All occupants are required to wear a properly adjusted
and fastened seat belt system.
Makes the driver responsible for proper seat
belt use by all occupants who are under the age of 18.
Road Rage....What
To Do If You Are Confronted By An Aggressive
Driver?
People who
drive aggressively and disregard the safety of others
on the road can escalate into a ROAD RAGE
incident. Because of
this, The East Orange Police Department and NHTSA recommend that
you:
Make every attempt to
elude them and stay
out of their way.
Check your
self-respect. Do not
challenge them by speeding up or attempting to hold-your-own
in your travel lane.
Avoid eye contact.
Ignore gestures and
refuse to return them.
If you have a cell phone,
and can do it safely, call the Police.
In an emergency situation
Only you can use your cell wireless phone without the aid of a hands-free
device. (New Jersey Law effective July 1st 2004)
Children up to age 8 or 80 pounds must ride in
a safety or booster seat in the rear seat of the vehicle. If there
is no rear seat, the child must sit in the front seat secured by a
child safety seat or booster seat.
Children under age 8 who weigh more than 80 pounds must wear a seat
belt anywhere in the vehicle.
Passengers age 8 to 18 (regardless of weight ) must wear a seat belt
anywhere inside a vehicle.
New
Child Seat Law Began December 1, 2001
Child
Safety Seats
Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause
of death of children over the age of six months in the United
States. The proper use of child car seats is one of the simplest and
most effective methods available for protecting the lives of our
young children in the event of a motor vehicle crash.
Please make sure that children are properly
protected while traveling in a motor vehicle. Only the correct use
of child car seats will offer the protection your child needs. So
please be aware of the facts listed on this page regarding the
proper use of child car seats.
There are many different types of child car
seats on the market today. Each one must meet federal standards and
all provide good protection for your child when used correctly. The
"right" seat for you is largely a matter of personal choice. Choose
a seat that fits your child and your car, read the instructions
carefully, and use the seat correctly on every trip.
Correct use
is easy if you follow four steps:
1. Read the manufacturer's instructions for
your car seat.
2. Face the child safety seat in the proper
direction. Infant seats always face backwards. Baby rides in a
semi-reclining position facing the rear of the car. Convertible
seats face backwards in a semi-reclining position for infants under
20 pounds and under 1 year of age, and forward in an upright
position for toddlers.
3. Secure your child snugly in the car seat.
Always buckle the seat's harness system securely to hold your child
safely in the seat. Allow no more than one finger-width of slack
between your child's collarbone and the harness strap.
4. Secure the child car seat with a seat belt.
Anchoring the seat properly with a seat belt is critical. A seat
that is not buckled securely to the car can tip over, slide sideways
or, in a crash, be ejected from the car. Check your instruction
manual to find out how to route the seat belt properly and fasten it
tightly.
Bicycle
Safety
The Division of
Highway Traffic Safety assists county, municipal and law enforcement
agencies with education, public awareness and enforcement of the
bicycle helmet law and other bicycle safety issues.
Each year, bicyclists are killed or injured in
New Jersey due to bicycle crashes. Many bicycle deaths result from
bicycle-motor vehicle collisions. However, injuries can happen
anywhere, including parks, bike paths and driveways, and often do
not involve motor vehicles.
Head injury is the most serious injury type
and the most common cause of death among bicyclists. The most severe
injuries are those to the brain that cause permanent damage.
Never ride a bicycle without a helmet. New
Jersey law states that anyone under the age of fourteen (14) riding
a bike, even as a passenger, must be wearing a properly fitted and
fastened bicycle helmet which meets the standards of the Snell
Memorial Foundation, the American Society of Testing and Materials
(ASTM) or the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
A child who violates this law will be warned
of the violation by the enforcing official. The parent or legal
guardian of the person also may be fined up to $25 for the first
offense and up to $100 for a subsequent offense. Bicycle helmets
should be used by everyone who rides, as helmets have been shown to
reduce head injuries by 85 percent. For children, use the extra
padding that comes with the helmet to ensure proper fit.
Have you
been "Saved" by a Bicycle Helmet?
If you or someone you know has been saved from
serious injury or death during a crash by wearing a bike helmet,
contact the NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety to receive an
application for membership in our "Saved by the Helmet Club".
Pedestrian Safety
New Jersey experience a disproportionate
number of pedestrian injury crashes and fatalities compared to the
nation as a whole. To combat the problem, the Division of Highway
Traffic Safety assists local and county agencies in the development
of pedestrian safety programs involving Education, Enforcement, and
Engineering.
Cross at intersections
only. The intersection is where drivers expect to see you.
Never cross from
in-between parked cars. Many children are killed or injured in
non-intersection accidents when they run into the roadway from
between parked cars.
Before crossing, look
left, right and left again. And always listen for oncoming
traffic.
Make sure you can be
seen at night. Wear white or light colored clothing when walking
at night. Attach reflective materials to coats and shoes or wear
reflective armbands. In areas with no sidewalk, walk as far off
the roadway as possible. Remember to walk on the left side of the
road, facing traffic.
Obey all traffic signs
and signals. Children should be discouraged from playing on
driveways and sidewalks near the roadway.
For information concerning motorcycle permits, licensing and the
Graduated Driver License program (GDL), please visit Motor Vehicle
Services website at:
www.state.nj.us/mvs
You look in the rearview/side
view mirror and see flashing red lights and hear the blast of a siren. You
realize that the police car approaching from behind is after
you. You feel that sudden sickening sense and may even wonder,
“What did I do?” But the simple fact of the matter is that you
are being stopped by the police–now what do you do? 
The officer will approach in a
manner that will promote the maximum safety for him or her. When
the officer first makes contact, he or she will usually ask for
your driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance. The
law requires that you have each of these items in your immediate
possession and that you present them upon request by an officer.
The law further states that if you do not have your license or
“other satisfactory evidence of identification,” you are subject
to physical arrest. It cannot be stressed enough how important
it is that you have your identification with you while driving.
Officers are not going to allow you to go home to get your
identification, nor will they wait for a friend, family member,
or associate, to bring your license to the location of the stop.
The officers will enforce what the law requires for those who
drive without proper identification and/or suspended licenses
and that is in all probability to place you under arrest. Now, back to the actual stop.
ask, “Do you know why I stopped you?” In either
instance, respond politely! If you do not know why you were
stopped, do not hesitate to ask. As we noted above, not everyone
is aware of what they may have done wrong to be pulled over by
the officer. A good example is if the officer stopped you
because your taillight burned out. You may not have been aware
that the light was not working. Keep in mind that you are being
contacted by a professional who sees this interaction with you
on a totally impersonal basis. The officer does not “have an axe
to grind,” does not “hate you,” is not “out to get you,” or
“does not have better things to do.” Quite the contrary, the
officer is just doing a part of his or her job. In fact, the
least desirable part of any police officer’s job is issuing
traffic citations. This is a critical fact to remember, because
the issuance of a traffic ticket is totally at the discretion of
the individual officer who stops you. Your odds of receiving a
verbal warning are the same as getting a ticket. So work to
shift the odds in your favor. 
Motorists who drink and drive are involved in approximately 50% of fatal
collisions and an equal percentage of serious injury collisions. After 2
a.m., it is estimated that two of every four motorists on the road are driving under the influence of alcohol. These
disturbing statisticsreflect a dangerous trend on our roads that
the East Orange Police Department is determined to reverse.
In New Jersey, you must be 21 to purchase,
possess or consume alcoholic beverages. Underage drinking is illegal
and can have severe consequences for young people who drink and for
adults who provide alcoholic beverages to those under 21.
Studies show seat belts do save lives and
reduce injuries during crashes. 
belts.
crash.
New Jersey experience a disproportionate
number of pedestrian injury crashes and fatalities compared to the
nation as a whole. To combat the problem, the Division of Highway
Traffic Safety assists local and county agencies in the development
of pedestrian safety programs involving Education, Enforcement, and
Engineering.
