NJ Cops Out En Masse In These 126 Towns

New Jersey drivers, now more than ever, should be keeping their eyes off their phones and on the roads, as police officers will be cracking down on distracted driving this April.

Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Division of Highway Traffic Safety (HTS) announced Wednesday the launch of increased enforcement efforts around the state targeting distracted drivers.

The “Put the Phone Away or Pay” campaign runs from April 1 to April 30 during National Distracted Driving Awareness Month to raise awareness that cellphone use or "any other non-driving task" while driving is "dangerous and unacceptable."

“Drivers should focus on the road and getting to their destination safely,” said Davenport. “It is dangerous to do other tasks while driving, especially using a cellphone. This campaign aims not just to enforce the laws and hold violators accountable, but also to change behaviors to prevent tragedies.”

According to the Attorney General, in 2024, 42 percent of crashes in New Jersey involved a distracted driver, resulting in 175 fatalities and 1,500 serious injuries.

“When you’re driving, nothing is more important than your safety and the safety of others,” said Michael J. Rizol, Jr., Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety. “Behaviors like texting take your mind, eyes, and hands away from the task of driving. Cellphone use while driving is especially dangerous. Other distractions (like) eating, drinking, adjusting vehicle controls, and tending to passengers also can lead to a crash.”

In an effort to fund the campaign, HTS is providing 126 municipalities and county law enforcement agencies with $706,860 to fund the Put the Phone Away or Pay” enforcement campaign. An additional $211,820 was awarded to the New Jersey State Police for enforcement along the state’s major roadways, including the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, and interstates.

As a result, motorists can expect an increase in law enforcement presence on roads throughout New Jersey, as well as more signage and messaging emphasizing the dangers of distracted driving.

New Jersey law prohibits using a handheld cellphone or device while operating a motor vehicle. Violating this law can result in fines of $200 to $400 for a first offense, $400 to $600 for a second offense, and up to $800 for subsequent violations, along with the addition of three insurance points. All violations require a mandatory court appearance.

Last year, New Jersey’s distracted driving enforcement campaign resulted in 6,872 citations for cellphone use or texting and 4,337 for careless driving in April 2025, according to the AG.

Funding Distribution

See how the hundreds of thousands of dollars are being distributed across 127 law enforcement agencies:

Atlantic County

Absecon Police Department: $4,200
Atlantic City Police Department: $10,500
Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office: $3,500
Brigantine Police Department:$4,200
Egg Harbor Township Police Department: $8,400
Galloway Township Police Department: $8,750
Hamilton Township Police Department: $8,750
Hammonton Police Department: $7,000
Longport Police Department: $2,800
Mullica Township Police Department: $7,000
Northfield Police Department: $2,800
Pleasantville Police Department: $2,800
Ventnor Police Department: $2,800

Bergen County

Bergenfield Police Department: $7,000
Closter Police Department: $7,000
East Rutherford Police Department: $7,000
Edgewater Police Department: $7,000
Elmwood Park Police Department: $7,000
Fair Lawn Police Department: $7,000
Fairview Police Department: $7,000
Franklin Lakes Police Department: $7,000
Leonia Police Department: $7,000
Montvale Police Department: $7,000
North Arlington Police Department: $7,000
Palisades Park Police Department: $7,000
Upper Saddle River Police Department: $7,000

Burlington County

Burlington Police Department: $7,000
Evesham Township Police Department: $7,000
Pemberton Police Department: $7,000

Camden County

Bellmawr Police Department: $7,000
Cherry Hill Police Department: $7,000
Gloucester Township Police Department: $7,000
Pine Hill Police Department: $7,000
Winslow Township Police Department: $7,000

Cape May County

Lower Township Police Department: $3,500
Middle Township Police Department: $4,200
North Wildwood Police Department: $2,800
Wildwood Police Department: $4,200
Wildwood Crest Police Department: $2,800

Essex County

Bloomfield Police Department: $7,000
Cedar Grove Police Department: $7,000
Fairfield Police Department: $7,000
Glen Ridge Police Department: $7,000
Millburn Police Department: $7,000
Newark Police Department: $7,000
Nutley Police Department: $7,000
Orange Police Department: $7,000
West Caldwell Police Department — $7,000

Gloucester County

Clayton Police Department: $1,120
Deptford Police Department: $7,000
East Greenwich Police Department: $2,800
Elk Township Police Department: $2,240
Franklin Township Police Department: $5,600
Glassboro Police Department: $7,000
Greenwich Township Police Department: $2,240
Harrison Township Police Department: $2,800
Mantua Police Department: $7,000
Monroe Township Police Department: $7,000
Pitman Police Department: $4,480
Washington Township Police Department: $7,000
West Deptford Police Department: $7,000
Westville Police Department: $5,600
Woodbury Police Department: $7,000

Hudson County

Guttenberg Police Department: $7,000
Harrison Police Department: $7,000
Secaucus Police Department: $7,000

Hunterdon County

Clinton Town Police Department: $2,100
Clinton Township Police Department: $5,600
Delaware Township Police Department: $2,100
Flemington Police Department: $4,200
Frenchtown Police Department: $2,800
Holland Township Police Department: $1,750
Lebanon Township Police Department: $2,800
Readington Township Police Department: $2,450
Tewksbury Township Police Department: $3,500
West Amwell Township Police Department: $1,400

Mercer County

Freehold Borough Police Department — $7,000
Hamilton Township Police Department: $7,000
Lawrence Township Police Department: $7,000

Middlesex County

Carteret Police Department: $7,000
Dunellen Police Department: $7,000
Highland Park Police Department: $7,000
Metuchen Police Department: $7,000
Milltown Police Department: $7,000
Monroe Township Police Department: $7,000
Old Bridge Police Department: $7,000
Perth Amboy Police Department: $7,000

Monmouth County

Freehold Borough Police Department: $7,000
Howell Township Police Department: $7,000
Marlboro Township Police Department: $7,00

Morris County

Hanover Township Police Department: $7,000
Jefferson Township Police Department: $7,000
Parsippany–Troy Hills Police Department: $7,000

Ocean County

Lakewood Police Department: $7,000
Stafford Township Police Department: $7,000

Passaic County

Bloomingdale Police Department: $7,000
Hawthorne Police Department: $7,000
Little Falls Police Department: $7,000
Passaic Police Department: $7,000

Somerset County

Bedminster Police Department: $3,500
Bernards Police Department: $2,100
Bernardsville Police Department: $2,100
Bound Brook Police Department: $2,240
Branchburg Police Department: $3,500
Bridgewater Police Department: $2,100
Far Hills Police Department: $2,800
Franklin Township Police Department: $7,000
Green Brook Police Department: $2,800
Hillsborough Township Police Department: $7,000
Manville Police Department: $7,000
Montgomery Police Department: $3,500
North Plainfield Police Department: $7,000
Peapack–Gladstone Police Department: $7,000
Raritan Borough Police Department: $1,400
Somerville Police Department: $2,800
Somerset County Sheriff’s Office: $1,400
South Bound Brook Police Department: $2,100
Warren Township Police Department: $3,500
Watchung Police Department: $1,400

Sussex County

Sparta Police Department: $7,000

Union County

Cranford Police Department: $7,000
Garwood Police Department: $7,000
Linden Police Department: $7,000
Plainfield Police Department: $7,000
Roselle Park Police Department: $7,000

State Police: $211,820

To learn more about traffic safety efforts undertaken by the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, click here.