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Chief William Cicchetti, President Sgt. Richard Maxwell 1st Vice-President (Ret.) Chief Tony Parenti, Editor MEETING NOTICES: Next Regular Business Meeting: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2008, beginning at 10:00 AM, at the Somerville Elks Club, Route 28 (Union Avenue) Bridgewater, NJ. Board Of Directors: The next meeting is at the call of the President.  PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: I would like thank the members of the nominating committee for putting together a slate of Officers that were elected uncontested. Congratulations also are in order for the officers elected to the Board of Officers. I am looking forward to working with them as we move the Association forward. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the membership for your cooperation during my first two years as President and I am looking forward to working with you while serving another two-year term. December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month. Police departments throughout the Nation will step up enforcement during the crucial holiday season that begins on December 7 and ends on January 2. Elsewhere in this newsletter you'll see where we are trying to develop an e-mail list for the newsletter. Please respond so we can serve you better. I wish you and your families a safe and joyous Christmas and a prosperous and happy New Year. Stay Safe - Bill ALCOTEST 7110 UPDATE: The New Jersey Supreme Court released the latest supplemental report prepared by Special Master Michael Patrick King. This involves the DWI case, State v. Chun that is challenging the reliability of the software that runs the Alcotest 7110 breath-testing instrument. Among Judge King's findings and recommendations are the following: 1. The Alcotest 7110 is scientifically reliable as a breath-testing instrument as to both hardware and software, subject to certain conditions; 2. Alcotest 7110 instruments in use should be subject to re-certification procedures every six months instead of yearly, as is now the practice; 3. As a result of certain mistakes in the software, evidence from a third breath test should not be utilized until the errors have been corrected; 4. An illegal operations trap in the software should be programmed to be activated; 5. If any of the categories on the Alcohol Influence Report are incomplete or missing, no portion of the report may be used in evidence. In practice this will mean that evidence of a blood alcohol level of .08% or greater would not be admissible at trial in those cases where the report is incomplete or missing data; The Supreme Court has invited briefs from the parties and will hold oral arguments at 10:00 a.m. on January 7, 2008. Thus it is not likely that we will hear anything official until February 2008. 
REASONABLE SUSPICION REQUIRED TO SEARCH A DISABLED CAR: State v. Elders 195 NJ 224 2007. The "reasonable and articulable suspicion" standard of State v. Carty. 174 N.J. 351 2002, which governs consent searches of cars that are validly stopped applies equally to disabled vehicles on the State's roadways. In this case the Court concludes that there was sufficient credible evidence in the record to support the trial judge's findings that the troopers engaged in an unconstitutional investigatory detention and search. "LOOKING BEYOND THE TRAFFIC TICKET": A Clinton Township police officer performed a routine traffic stop for erratic driving that resulted in the arrest of a kidnapping and molestation fugitive wanted in Florida. Lt. Ryan Melsky stopped Juan Gonzalez-Diaz for erratic driving and discovered the driver had addresses in Charlotte, N.C., and Pittsburgh, Pa., and was driving with a suspended license. A check of the passenger revealed he had a fake California driver's license and a fake social security card in the name of "Alejandro Ramirez." After being arrested and fingerprinted the man's true identity was determined to be Martin Morales, Jr., 26, of Haines City, Florida. A check with the NCIC database showed the man was wanted in Osceola County, Florida, on charges of kidnapping a child younger than 13, false imprisonment of a child younger than 13 and lewd or lascivious molestation. Sgt. Matthew McGill assisted in the investigation. 
As of Week 46 there were 623 fatalities recorded on NJ roads compared to 699 during the same period in 2006, A DECREASE OF 76 DEATHS.
There were 380 Driver deaths, 118 Passengers, 113 Pedestrians, and 09 Pedacyclists. There were 620 fatalities in 576 cashes. RADAR TUNING FORK CERTIFICATION INFORMATION: NJ Weights & Measures will test and certify Radar Tuning Forks at our February meeting for departments A through M and at the March meeting for departments N through Z. To expedite the process they ask that all tuning forks be sorted by miles per hour and in banded bundles, list each fork on their invoice including miles per hour and serial number, have your department's purchase order entirely filled out including the mailing address section along with a copy of their invoice. Remember they raised the price for testing radar tuning forks from $5.00 to $10.00 per fork. Any questions or comments call 732-815-4851 and speak with Supervisor Anthony Neri or 732-815-4859 and speak with someone from his staff. MEETING CANCELLATION INFORMATION: We try not to cancel Business Meetings unless conditions are so dangerous that traffic officers must remain at their departments to handle whatever problems may arise. If we cancel a meeting due to bad weather or for any for other reason, we will post the cancellation notice on the Police Network by 0600 on the date of the meeting and on our website. We also will try to get it on 101.5 radio. Always check, particularly during inclement weather. 
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION REGARDING NEWSLETTER: If you would like to have the monthly newsletter e-mailed to you instead of delivery by post office mail please let us know by sending a message to tparenti@comcast.net. Please include the name of your department and the name of the contact person. NEW TEMPORARY TAGS & MOTOR VEHICLE TITLES: MVC will begin issuing more secure vehicle titles and temporary tags. The new title will be purple color with issue beginning on January 2, 2008. They have security features to alert police that the title has been duplicated. The new titles use some of the same security features as paper money. That includes water marks printed on the document and a security thread, which runs the length of the document, both of which disappear or show up as a broken if photocopied, said John Santana, commission spokesman. The word "Void" also will appear if the title is photocopied, he said. Among the more sophisticated security features on the new title is a circle in the upper left-hand corner with the letters NJ inside, which is heat sensitive. The circle fades under the heat of a thumb and then returns when it cools. While the circle will appear if a title is copied, it will fail the heat test. The current "pink" titles are still valid. The New temporary plates will be phased in January 1, 2008 and will replace the existing paper license plates placed in the back window of new or used vehicles by dealers. The new temporary tag will be printed on security paper and contains features to deter people from changing or altering the expiration date. 
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SAFETY BELT AND BULLETPROOF VEST SALUTE OUR WAR HEROES - NEVER FORGET THE DEPARTED Next Meeting January 2nd - Somerville Elks Club, Bridgewater, NJ |