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75 Martine Avenue, Fanwood, NJ 07023 - 908/322-7773 FAX - 908-322-2200 or 908-889-6359 Safety Wings | Tony Parenti , Editor MEETING NOTICES: Next Regular Business Meeting: The Next Regular Business Meeting is WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 2006, 10:00 AM at The Somerville Elks Club, Route 28 (Union Avenue) Bridgewater, NJ. Board Of Directors: The next meeting is on March 29, 2006 beginning at 11:00 am at the John H. Stamler Police Academy. If you need directions call 908-889-6112 or NJPTOA Office 908-322-7773.  PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: I attended a national conference in New York City sponsored by N.H.T.S.A. and M.A.D.D. The conference centered on funding, media relations and how enforcement programs could benefit by bringing law enforcement, the media, and public officials together to successfully identify problems and develop plans to solve them. M.A.D.D. explained how they could partner with law enforcement by assisting with support for victims, lobbying for legislation, and giving support in courts and public opinion when implementing enforcement programs. There now is a Traffic Safety Prosecutor in the A.G.'s office to give advice and guidance to municipal prosecutors and police officers. There will be a report and distribution of the proposed revision of our by-laws at the next meeting and copies will be mailed to those who cannot attend. Stay Safe - Bill. TRUCK BAN ON LOCAL ROADS LIFTED: A federal appeals court recently ruled that New Jersey must allow double-trailer trucks and many tractor-trailers passing through the state to use local roads. A three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that the 7-year-old ban violates the U.S. Constitution's "commerce clause" by discriminating against interstate commerce. The ban prohibited double trailers and 102-inch-wide trucks from secondary and rural roads. Large trucks were restricted to major highways -- the interstates, the New Jersey Turnpike and the Atlantic City Expressway -- unless they had an origin or a destination in New Jersey. NJDOT is considering appealing the ruling. 
22ND MID-ATLANTIC REGION SAFETY & LOSS CONTROL EXPO: The New Jersey Safety Council will hold their Expo at the Trumpp Plaza Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City April 25 through 27, 2006. The 3-day professional development conference features the latest information on Construction, Compliance, General Industry, Health & Wellness, Loss Control, Emergency Response, Homeland Security, Air Force Safety Programs, Transportation and lots more. More information is available by calling the Safety Council at 908-228-3834. TEENS & ALCOHOL: According to a published report teenagers are more likely to experiment with alcohol than their grandparents and may face tougher problems with late-in-life alcohol abuse. The report said 20 percent of the 500 older people said they first tried alcohol before turning 18. The data shows 6 percent of today's seniors reported they sampled alcohol by age 14, and 43 percent of eighth-graders, age 13 and 14, owned up to drinking. Women report they are more likely to completely avoid drinking -- 73 percent of women said they abstained, compared with 27 percent of men. People who have not been educated past high school abstain in greater numbers than college graduates. Some 57 percent of seniors with an income of less than $20,000 abstain, 29 percent with incomes of $20,000 to $40,000, and only 13 percent for seniors with incomes beyond $40,000. Men were more likely to say they had alcohol in the last 30 days, by a margin of 39 percent to 25 percent. Whites were nearly three times more likely than minorities to say they drank, and widows reported drinking less than people who were single, married or divorced, 23 percent to 36 percent R&R RADAR, INC. MOVED: Effective March 1, 2006, R&R Radar, Inc., moved to 762 White Horse Pike (aka Route 30) Atco, NJ, 08004 - phone 856-767-7734. To make the transition a little smoother, they ask that you supply them with all current information so they can send mass e-mails to the proper personnel. E-mail your name, address, phone (extension), fax to: rnradar@verizon.net, attention Susan Gregorovic. Directions: From Philadelphia, take Route 30 East (1.5 Miles from Cooper Folley Rd). They are in the gray building on the left across from Maplewood IV Restaurant. From Atlantic City take Route 30 West (8.5 Miles from Route 206), right side.  As of Week 11, 2006 there were 122 fatalities recorded on NJ roads compared to 82 during the same period in 2005, AN INCREASE OF 40 BODIES.
As of this report, there were 69 driver deaths, 14 passengers, 38 pedestrians, 00 motorcycle drivers, 00 Motorcycle passengers, and 01 pedacyclists. There were 122 fatalities in 117 cashes. CARS SAFER FOR KIDS THAN SUV'S: Researchers looked at crashes involving nearly 4,000 children under age 16 from 2000 to 2003, and found children in rollovers were three times more likely to be seriously injured in SUV'S than riding in conventional passenger cars. But they also say SUV'S will probably improve because of legislation approved by Congress this year that requires standards for automakers to address rollovers. 
LEGISLATIVE STUFF: The following Bills were introduced: A-2618, Stender, Wisniewski (NJPTOA Bill) Clarifies functioning high-mounted rear stop lamp is required under State Law. A-2643, Diegnan, Barnes; Increases motor vehicle property damage reporting threshold to over $1,000.00. A-2607, Vas; Permits MVC to issue driving privilege cards to persons who cannot prove ID or lawful presence in the country. S-1333, Karcher; Requires pedestrians to yield right of way to authorized emergency vehicles and drivers to move over or slow down for parked authorized emergency vehicles. The Assembly approved Gov. Corzine's plan to borrow $18 billion to pay for transportation projects. The proposal would pay for road and rail projects for the next 5 years. This will cost us $700 to $900 million in annual payments until 2040. Even though the plan funds road and rail projects for five years, it still leaves the state without a long-term transportation-funding source. A complete copy of all traffic related bills is available at our meetings, thanks to the hard work and dedication of Sgt. Mike Brunson. INFORMATION WANTED: The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is seeking information from law enforcement agencies operating 2003 to 2005 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors. The information is requested in support of a defect investigation ODI is conducting. Additional information is available from ODI's website, http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/, under the Defects Investigations search link. ODI is investigating cracking or breaking of the steel wheel rim at the weld that joins the rim and wheel disc; the weld is located in the area where the outboard tire bead contacts the rim. The crack occurs at the backside of the outboard flange and therefore is not visible without removing the wheel from the vehicle. In many cases, the crack may not be visible to the unaided eye and it is often detectable only if the tire is experiencing ongoing or sudden air pressure loss. This steel wheel, a design type that was introduced in 2003, has been the subject of prior investigations, a safety recall, and manufacturer extended warranty programs. ODI is seeking information related to any event involving a 2003 - 2005 CVPI where a rapid deflation of a tire (similar to a tire blow-out), a de-beading of a tire from the rim, a loss/near loss of vehicle control, a crash, or an injury to a person(s) occurred and may have been caused by cracking or breaking of the steel rim. Please contact the ODI investigator if you have information; a prompt reply is requested. Scott Yon, Defects Investigator scott.yon@nhtsa.dot.gov, US Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Office of Defects Investigations, Room 5326, 400 7th Street, SW Washington, DC 20590 202-366-0139 - Fax-202-366-1767. SUPREME COURT HALTS ALCOTEST: The New Jersey Supreme Court has ordered that no further expansion of the Alcotest 7110 is to be allowed without a specific prior authorization from the Supreme Court. In a letter from the Clerk of the Supreme Court to the Hon. Michael Patrick King, PJAD (ret.), the designated special master in the State v. Chun Alcotest case, it was indicated that such orders should not be expected to be approved. The Court's order effectively halts the continuing rollout of the Alcotest 7110 around the State by the Office of the Attorney General until a final determination as to the instrument's scientific reliability has been adjudicated. 
to the family of Watchung Police Officer Matthew J. Melchionda who was recently killed in the line of duty in an auto crash. ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SAFETY BELT AND BULLETPROOF VEST SUPPORT OUR TROOPS IN THE ARMED SERVICES WE WISH YOU AND YOURS A HEALTHY & HAPPY NEW YEAR |