Bergen County Plans to Hit More Drivers with Traffic Summonses in Safety Initiative

Bergen County, NJ-Following the dramatic increase in pedestrian deaths in Bergen County and New Jersey as a whole, law enforcement agencies announced an initiative to curtail traffic accidents. On Tuesday, county officials gathered in Hackensack to put pedestrians and motorists on notice: Obey pedestrian traffic laws or you will get a ticket!

Throughout October, police will be out in force in Bergen County ready to ticket any motorist and pedestrian for violating traffic laws no matter how minor. During the press conference, Sheriff Michael Saudino told reports that he even instructed officers to issue tickets for jaywalking, NorthJersey.com reported. So, no pedestrian or motorist will be exempt from being ticketed if they violate a pedestrian safety law.

The ticket blitz comes as pedestrian fatalities have nearly tripled in the span of just two years. NorthJersey.com reports that there were 9 pedestrian traffic fatalities in 2013 which jumped to 24 in 2014. This is a troubling increases for law enforcement since nationwide traffic fatalities have been steadily declining over the past three decades.

This initiative also coincides with the time of year when pedestrian fatalities tick up and includes a billboard campaign aimed at distracted driving. Nationwide, distracted driving accounts for nearly a third of fatal traffic accidents, so the billboards will remind drivers in Bergen County to keep their eyes on the road and not on their phones.

In New Jersey, it is against the law for any motorist of any age to use a hand-held device behind the wheel. It is also a violation of traffic laws to send or receive a text behind the wheel. New Jersey is one of the many states where using a cell phone while driving is considered a primary offense, which means police can pull you over for a cell phone violation even if you are not committing any other violations.

Many people look at traffic tickets as no big deal, often choosing to pay their fine and court costs and move on without realizing how much it will impact them. The most noticeable impact will be an increase in a motorist’s insurance premiums. A motorist also risks getting points of their driver’s license if they don’t fight their traffic ticket and if they accumulate too many points on their license, they can have it suspended.

In many instances, it is wiser for a person to fight their traffic ticket no matter how minor it may seem to them. If you do choose to fight your traffic ticket, I can help. As defense attorney practicing in New Jersey, I know how what it takes to challenge your traffic ticket and are willing work hard on your behalf.

If you need help challenging or negotiating a traffic ticket, or are facing a DWI or a criminal offense, you can contact my office in Newark and we can set up a time to talk about your charges and how I can benefit your case. Anyone who needs legal assistance in Hackensack or Bergen County can contact my office at (973)-453-2009. I will use my experience and skills to provide you with the strongest defense possible and will be dedicated to your from beginning to end.