|
MEETING NOTICES: Board Of Directors: The next meeting is at the call of the President. Regular Business Meeting: The next Regular Business Meeting is on WEDNESDAY JUNE 23, 2004 - 10:00 AM at the Convention Center - Rooms 308-09, in Atlantic City, NJ. Please note there will not be a meeting on the first Wednesday in June. Instead, we will be meeting in Atlantic City where, after the meeting, we will tour the Police Security Expo as guests of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police. Invite as many guests as you desire to attend the meeting and the expo. As usual, there will be cash and equipment prizes donated by vendors. Also remember we do not meet during the months of July and August unless there is pressing business. 30th ANNIVERSARY MEETING: A heartfelt thanks goes out to Chief Cicchetti and his committee for the splendid 30th anniversary meeting of the NJPTOA. Joe Cofone did an excellent job with the video presentation and it was good to see some of the former officers, members, and friends of the Association. A special thanks goes to Director Roberto Rodriguez for sponsoring the event, the vendors that donated gifts, and to all who attended. Our record of accomplishment speaks for itself. Each and everyone of you can be proud to be part of this great Association and by continuing to work together for our common cause, saving lives, we can do even greater in the next 30 years. PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES OF 2003 HIGHWAY FATALITIES: Motor vehicle crash injuries declined slightly in 2003, the lowest levels since such data has been kept. NHTSA says the fatality report is mixed with 43,220 deaths overall on the nation's highways in 2003, up slightly from 42,815 in 2002. They estimate that the fatality rate in 2003 remained unchanged from 2002 - 1.5 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. Motorcycle fatalities rose by 348 to 3,592, an 11 percent increase. Passenger car fatalities declined by 778, but SUV fatalities increased by 456, 55 percent being rollover crashes. This increase was partially accounted for by increases in SUV sales. In 2003, 58 percent of those killed in passenger vehicles were not wearing safety belts. Forty percent (17,401) of all fatalities were alcohol-related. NHTSA estimates highway crashes cost society $230.6 billion a year, about $820 per person. The 2003 Fatality Analysis Reporting System also shows: Pedestrian deaths declined 2.8 percent from 4,808 in 2002 to 4,672 in 2003. Fatalities from large truck crashes increased slightly from 4,897 in 2002 to 4,942 in 2003, a 0.9 percent rise. Deaths of children seven and under remained near historic low levels, with 972 children seven and under killed, compared with 968 in 2002. The number of fatal crashes involving young drivers (16-20) declined by 3.7 percent (from 7,738 in 2002 to 7,452). In 2003, vehicle miles traveled increased slightly to 2.88 trillion, up from 2.86 trillion in 2002, according to the DOT's Federal Highway Administration. The number of registered vehicles increased from 225.7 million in 2002 to 230.2 million in 2003. As of April 29, 2004 there were 173 fatalities recorded on NJ roads compared to 166 during the same period in 2003, AN INCREASE OF 7 BODIES. .
During this period there were 111 driver deaths, 22 passengers, 34 pedestrians, 04 motorcycle drivers, 0 motorcycle passengers, and 02 pedacyclists. LEGISLATIVE STUFF: A627 Stender/Impreveduto, provides that intersections with non-operational traffic control signals are to be treated as stop intersections under certain circumstances (this is one of our bills - it passed both houses and awaits the signature of the Governor). S1511 Madden/Vitale, reduces from 0.10% to 0.08% the blood alcohol content at which a person is considered guilty of operating a boat while under the influence (Passed both houses). MPH STICKING IT TO JACK MATTESSICH & N.J.: We were stunned at our last meeting when Jack Mattessich announced his sudden departure with MPH Industries. Jack, a former Cliffside Park police officer had been selling MPH products in New Jersey for the past 9 years. It seems MPH is not happy with the situation going on in New Jersey, probably with the case law that only recognizes the K-55 in the moving mode. Modern radar, including some MPH stuff, is much more advanced than the K-55 but the newer units are not in compliance with case law. Technology changed but the law didn't keep pace and is now a serious problem that needs to be addressed. But to let Jack go and for the President of MPH to say they 'would like to put a crowbar to New Jersey and let it slide into the Atlantic Ocean,' is too far out of line. Maybe we should visit the MPH booth while we are at the Atlantic City Expo and let them know what they can do with their crowbar! MOTOR VEHICLE FINE COMMITTEE REPORT: The committee completed their sessions and sent in recommendations to lower the fines for not having documents in possession. This requires legislative changes that already are in the works. We will post the final draft on our website. NEXT MEETING WEDNESDAY JUNE 23, 2004 - 10:00 AM Convention Center - Rooms 308-09, in Atlantic City, NJ WE SALUTE OUR FIGHTING MEN AND WOMEN |