The following is an ‘Ask The Chief’ question submitted to TLS, and the Chief’s response. Email your questions for the Chief to [email protected].
Question:
Dear Chief,
Firstly, allow me to thank you for really ensuring this amazing town’s safety etc. I was wondering what are the legal parameters if any for hitch hikers and people stopping to pick them up. I drive home every night down a poorly lit road and there are constantly hitch hikers from a school, which due to the lack of lighting poses a serious safety issue.. Please shed some light.
A Lakewood Resident
The Chief’s Response:
Hitch hiking is a violation of the motor vehicle statue and is enforceable in two ways. The person waving, thumbing or hitching a ride can be issued a summons for doing so as well as the driver for stopping to pick someone up. The driver could be charged with the more serious of offenses as there are a few that can be used and applicable, a few even with points. I agree it is dangerous and motorists that stop to do a good deed or to give a ride only make it worse. I know the township is working on adding more bus routes and stops for the township transportation system in an effort for these students that need a ride to or from a school.
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Have a question for the Chief? Email it to [email protected]
It is time BMG enacts a carpool system whereas those who are driving to and from yeshiva give rides to those who would be hitching or having their spouse drive them.
This would lower the number of hitchikers, decrease the number of cars on the road significantly, and reduce the hassle of parking in the BMG vicinity.
The township and BMG should work together to grant a monetary incentive for those who carpool.
I already do it with my car, and my riders couldn’t be happier. Saves them and their wives a lot of time.
A big percent of hitch hickers are bochrim going to or from yeshiva.
I understand “Hitchhiking” to mean to accept a ride from anyone who stops for you. Would it be hitchhiking if I only am looking for rides from my relatives? What about if only from my neighbors that I know?
There was a county in CA that solved there hitchhiking problum by making it legal. Anyone who wanted to give or get rides regestered with the sheirif dep. in witch your crimanl and driving recard was looked at- You got a card one side was a photo id. the other was bright red People looking to hich stood at the side of the road holding the red side out people looking to pick up would show there card. Informtion on how to safely hichhike were given out I don’t know if something like this can work in Lakewood but, what we have now is not working
People giving the rides should at least pull to the curb or of the road when picking up or dropping of riders so they don’t impede the floor of traffic increasing the chance of a mva.
Hitching is how teenage yeshiva guys get around. In a relatively safe town, bli ayin hara, let it slide. Either that, or have the police giving the guys rides. Don’t punish the people doing chesed with their cars.
Sure. As long as they are not impeding traffic and placing others at risk when doing so. Pull safely all the way to right at a location that allows for stopping completely outside the flow of traffic.
Too many drivers are doing the following:
Short stopping and barely pulling over
Stopping on heavily traveled road ways such as Rt 9
Stopping in middle of a turn and holding up traffic, effectively becoming a road hazard – such as turning from Central onto Sunset
Not pulling over at all and allowing hitch hikers to embark when stopped at a red light which inevitably turns green – who gave you the right to nice at the expense of countless others
Hitch Hikers also need to use common sense.
Standing in any area mentioned above or any unsafe location
At night, wear reflectors! Drivers can hardly see you! Bachurim standing almost in middle of the road way presents a major safety concern, not to mention the chillul hashem.
Always, a yeshiva guy will post here saying we shouldn’t bother people doing Chesed. Chesed needs to be done with sechel too. Irrational and dangerous behavior can not be excused or permitted under the banner of Chesed.
By all means, do the Chesed. Just do it legally and safely.
Or maybe call a taxi
Uber is available for a charge…
There was plenty of time throughout the summer to arrange a ride for this school year. I see the same boys as last year on the same corners looking for rides. As stated above too many people pull over with no directional, leave the back end of the car hanging out in the road or even worse stop right in the middle of the road to pick up/drop off these boys. My question would also be why are the girls walking so far to their schools while the boys don’t walk at all? I’ve seen girls walk the entire length of Pine Street and then some while the boys won’t walk 50 feet unless they’re going to a car that has pulled over to give someone else a ride.
The comments here are great. Just to answer your question about the difference between boys & girls, the answer probably is that they have a much longer day, and are much more tired. But exercise is a great thing; whatever one can get is great – and the person will feel better from it! But you can’t do exercise when you’re tired (or just ate, or are hungry), it has to be when you have energy.
Pulling over all the way when giving a ride – even though it takes another moment – is very important, as was mentioned. Likewise, the bochurim waiting (and anyone going in a street – for any amount of time or distance) should be wearing reflectors. They’re available in NPGS (at least two of them), COT x2, Dr Shaniks x2, DB, FoodEx & FarmFresh. Especially now in the winter – when the nights are longer – they are important (but they’re important the whole year, at night).
Regarding enforcing, it would probably not be practical, because the passenger can say it was a prearranged ride (as someone asked about), still it should be taken into account that according to the letter of the law, it can be enforced, just isn’t because, thank Heaven, there haven’t been issues. But certainly all that can be done to do it in a safe manner is certainly in order. It takes another moment, as someone mentioned, but is very important. We have to appreciate the safety of the town and all those who help out towards it, but we have to contribute to it as well! Be well, be safe!
for BMG they should have preferred parking in the lot for those who have multiple occupants per car – almost like the car pool lane , i think that would be a great incentive