Pair Of Traffic Laws Unanimously Approved By Gloucester Township Council

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Gloucester Township Council made a pair of changes to the township’s traffic laws Monday night.

Council unanimously passed a pair of ordinances on second reading dealing with parking issues.

The first established four “Do Not Block The Box” locations in the township, meaning a driver shouldn’t enter an intersection if they can’t make it all the way through due to traffic.

Stopping people from “blocking the box” means there should be no cars in the middle of the intersection when the light turns red, thereby reducing the chances for traffic jams.

The “Do Not Block the Box” intersections designating by this ordinance include:

• Evesham Road at Jefferson Court;
• Jarvis Road at Wiltshire Road;
• Somerdale Road at the exit of Chews Elementary School; and
• Berlin-Cross Keys Road at Red Bud Drive.

Council also unanimously passed an ordinance prohibiting overnight parking in four public places, including:

• Commerce Square I and II on Blackwood-Clementon Road and Kelly Drivers Lane;
• Commerce Square III on Blackwood-Clementon Road;
• 1370 Blackwood-Clementon Road;
• The K-Mart/Cherrywood Shopping Center on Blackwood-Clementon Road and Little Gloucester Road; and
• Wawa on Erial Road and Little Gloucester Road.

Overnight parking is between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. The ordinance also prohibits residents from parking vehicles, trailers, buses and recreational vehicles over three tons, and from parking vehicles, boats or trailers with the intent to display them for sale.

Violators are subject to a fine of up to $1,000, towing and possible jail time or community service up to 90 days.

Council also amended the township's towing ordinance to allow the township to refuse an applicant if a background investigation reveals they were convicted of a crime that was sexual in nature or endangering the welfare of a child, convicted of crime involving arson, aggravated assault, burglary, embezzlement, conspiracy, conversion and misappropriation of funds, extortion, larceny, loan sharking, possession or use of narcotics and any other crimes in the last 10 years, or a disorderly or petty disorderly persons offense in the last three years.

All votes were 5-0. Councilwomen Andrea Stubbs and Tracey Trotto were absent due to illness.