The Lakewood, Jackson and Howell police department will all be participating in the state’s upcoming campaign to reduce distracted driving.
The campaign, known as “Put the Phone Away or Pay,” runs from April 1 through April 30, and provides funding for law enforcement agencies throughout the state to bolster enforcement of laws prohibiting texting and other forms of distracted driving. In addition to these enforcement efforts, HTS has launched a public awareness campaign to educate drivers about the dangers and consequences of distracted driving.
Preliminary data shows that in 2023, 48 percent of drivers involved in crashes in New Jersey were engaged in distracted behavior, resulting in 160 fatalities and over 1,400 serious injuries.
To support the “Put the Phone Away or Pay” enforcement efforts, HTS has provided 158 law enforcement agencies in 19 counties with over $1 million in grants to fund saturation patrols during the month-long campaign, which targets drivers engaging in distracted driving behaviors, such as texting or talking on the phone.
An additional $211,820 was awarded to the New Jersey State Police for distracted driving enforcement on the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, the interstates, and all other roadways that they patrol.
Lakewood has received a $12,250 grant, while Jackson and Howell received 7,000 each.
In New Jersey, using a handheld electronic device while operating a motor vehicle is illegal. Violating this law can result in fines ranging from $200 to $400 for a first offense and up to $800 for subsequent violations, along with the addition of three insurance points.
In 2024, the distracted driving mobilization yielded 9,055 citations for cell phone use or texting and almost 4,800 for careless driving.
In 2024, there were 684 fatalities on roads across the state, a 13% increase from the 606 deaths in 2022.
No coincidence that they’re doing it bayin hazmanim
Seriously? You cannot honestly think this offensive! Those who disrespect and disregard traffic lights, stop signs, speed limits, unbelted children in vehicles, etc. are oblivious to EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING that is not conducive to their mindset. The inane drivers in these towns, regardless of a specific holiday, need to learn to abide by the guidelines and laws that are in place. How difficult is that? So many of the careless drivers have brand new vehicles…use your Bluetooth and PUT DOWN THE PHONE! You are not the only ones on the roads.9
I support Trump
I support his policies
I support the police
I support law and order
and I support common sense!!!
this is a big issue, we get stuck behind these drivers all the time and get all upset but the second police start working on it we become hypocrites to everything we believe. why? because we look for issues…
I fully support this and i hope everyone puts away their phones for good before they get smacked with a huge ticket, but if they dont take this warning, im sorry to say that i hope they get a fat ticket and learn their lesson! yes i hope they get a ticket because i care about the other drivers on the road!!
and they should also ticket anyone who parks on the corner, its really unsafe and causes many accidents!
So it’s always been a law and now they are going to enforce it. What are they blind to what goes on every day in these towns right in front of them or have they been told not to enforce the existing laws because a certain religious sect will be upset and scream that they are being targeted. What about all the lives that have been lost due to their actions, guess we all needed to close our eyes to that.