Bloomfield Cops To Use Undercover Officers In Crosswalk Crackdown

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — During the month of May, the Bloomfield Police Department will be cracking down on drivers who don’t stop for pedestrians using the crosswalks.

According to a municipal news release, the “Cops in Crosswalks” operation, which will be taking place at dozens of locations throughout the township, will have undercover police officers posing as pedestrians at crosswalks.

The police department has performed this operation every year for over 10 years, with the goals of educating drivers and protecting pedestrians, Bloomfield town officials stated.

The undercover officers who observe a failure to stop at a crosswalk will instruct their partners in nearby police cars to pull the driver over a few hundred feet past these crosswalks. From there, the officers will follow standard protocol, but will also be sure to give the driver pamphlets on the importance of stopping at crosswalks, town officials stated.

“This operation is about education,” Mayor Michael Venezia said. “Bloomfield has several high-speed municipal and county roads running in each direction, and residents need to feel safe crossing the streets. We hope that by education, prevention and enforcement, residents will be more mindful of pedestrians’ rights, and always stop when they see someone in a crosswalk.”

Director of Public Safety Samuel DeMaio said throughout the year, Bloomfield police officers conduct radar enforcement campaigns to crack down on excessive speeding, and distracted driving campaigns to warn about the dangers of using cell phones while driving.

“This operation is no different,” DeMaio said. “Bloomfield is becoming more pedestrian and multi-modal friendly, but the onus is still on drivers to watch the road. Our officers will be observing the way drivers stop or don’t stop for residents using crosswalks. We will fully enforce the law to ensure distracted driving becomes less prevalent throughout Bloomfield.”

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