Put Down The Phone: Distracted Driving Crackdown Begins In 157 NJ Towns This April

NEW JERSEY — Officers will be extra-alert for distracted drivers on NJ roads this month as they begin increased patrols and cite drivers who are not fully attentive behind the wheel.

The "U Drive. U Text. U Pay" campaign runs from April 1-30 in 157 towns across New Jersey, said Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Highway Traffic Safety. A total of $1.1 million will be distributed between these departments to pay for saturation patrols during the month-long campaign, said state officials; click here to see the full list.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and officers will increase patrols on New Jersey roads to stop anyone who is texting or otherwise distracted while driving, said NJ State Police Colonel Patrick Callahan.

“The reason for this increased presence is to help deter and prevent one of the greatest causes of loss of life on our roadways, distracted driving," Callahan said.

Driver inattention accounted for 49 percent of all crashes recorded in the state from 2017-2021, and 915 fatalities in that time according to state police. It is also illegal in NJ to operate a motor vehicle while using a handheld electronic device; violators face fines of $200-400 dollars for a first offense.

This could increase to $800 with the addition of three insurance points in subsequent violations.

During the 2022 distracted driving crackdown, officers wrote more than 8,000 citations for texting and almost 4,000 for careless driving, said state police and the attorney general.

“Public safety is my number one priority, and that includes safe passage on New Jersey roadways,” said AG Platkin, saying his office's efforts to reduce distracted driving go "hand in hand" with Gov. Murphy's focus "on the safety and security of all New Jerseyans."

Distracted driving kills – it is that simple," Platkin continued. "And the initiative announced today couples education with enforcement - educating residents about the dangers of distracted driving and stepping up our enforcement of laws that prohibit it.”

April 4 marks the launch of the "Memorial 2.0" public awareness campaign, which will reinforce safety messages and exhibit the consequences of distracted driving.

These municipalities are receiving grants, according to the Division of Highway Safety.

Atlantic Co.

• Absecon
• Brigantine
• Hamilton
• Hammonton
• Linwood
• Mullica
• Northfield
• Pleasantville
• Ventnor

Bergen Co.

• Bergenfield
• Bogota
• Cliffside Park
• Closter
• East Rutherford
• Edgewater
• Elmwood Park
• Englewood
• Fair Lawn
• Fairview
• Fort Lee
• Franklin Lakes
• Garfield
• Glen Rock
• Haworth
• Leonia
• Montvale
• New Milford
• Oradell
• Palisades Park
• Paramus
• South Hackensack
• Teaneck
• Woodcliff Lake

Burlington Co.

• Bordentown City
• Burlington Township
• Evesham
• New Hanover
• Pemberton
• Riverside
• Willingboro

Camden Co.

• Barrington
• Gloucester Township
• Lawnside
• Stratford

Cape May Co.

• Lower
• Middle
• North Wildwood

Cumberland Co.

• Millville
• Vineland

Essex Co.

• Bloomfield
• Essex County Sheriff
• Fairfield
• Glen Ridge
• Livingston
• Montclair
• Verona
• West Orange

Gloucester Co.

• Clayton
• Deptford
• East Greenwich
• Elk
• Franklin
• Glassboro
• Greenwich
• Harrison
• Logan
• Mantua
• Monroe Township
• Paulsboro
• Pitman
• Rowan University
• Washington
• Westville
• Woodbury

Hudson Co.

• Bayonne
• Harrison
• Hoboken
• Kearny
• North Bergen
• Secaucus
• Union City
• West New York

Hunterdon Co.

• Clinton Town
• Clinton Township
• Flemington

• Frenchtown
• Holland
• High Bridge
• Lebanon
• Raritan Township
• Readington
• Tewksbury
• West Amwell

Mercer Co.

• Hamilton
• West Windsor

Middlesex Co.

• Carteret
• Dunellen
• Edison
• Highland Park
• Jamesburg
• Monroe
• North Brunswick
• Perth Amboy
• Piscataway
• South Brunswick

Monmouth Co.

• Deal
• Howell
• Little Silver
• Manalapan
• Marlboro
• Monmouth County Sheriff
• Red Bank
• Sea Girt

Morris Co.

• Dover
• Florham Park
• Hanover
• Jefferson
• Randolph

Ocean Co.

• Berkeley Township
• Lacey
• Lakewood
• Pine Beach

Passaic Co.

• Bloomingdale
• Hawthorne
• Little Falls
• Passaic
• Paterson
• West Milford

Salem Co.

• Pennsville

Somerset Co.

• Bernards
• Bernardsville
• Bound Brook
• Branchburg
• Bridgewater
• Far Hills
• Franklin
• Green Brook
• Hillsborough
• Manville
• Montgomery
• North Plainfield
• Peapack
• Gladstone
• Raritan
• Somerset County Sheriff
• South Bound Brook
• Warren
• Watchung

Sussex Co.

• Hopatcong
• Sparta

Union Co.

• Cranford
• Linden
• Mountainside
• New Providence
• Plainfield
• Roselle
• Springfield
• Union Township