|
|
November
75 Martine Avenue, Fanwood, NJ 07023 - 908/322-7773
FAX - 908-322-2200 or 908-889-6359
Safety Wings | Tony Parenti , Editor
MEETING NOTICES: Board Of Directors: The next meeting is at the call of the President.
Next Regular Business Meeting: The Next Regular Business Meeting is on WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2005, 10:00 AM at The Somerville Elks Club, Route 28 (Union Avenue) Bridgewater, NJ.
NJPTOA ELECTIONS: All officer positions terminate at the end of old business at the December 7, 2005 meeting. Anyone seeking office for any position, including incumbents, must contact the nominating committee with their intention as quickly as possible. You may call Lt. Paul Ding of the Wayne Police Department 973 694 0600 or Todd Hoagland, East Windsor Police Department, 609 448 5678. Nominations also will be open from the floor at the November 2 meeting. The election will take place at the December 7 meeting.
CDL MUST BE PLACED ON SUMMONS: Upon issuance of a summons or complaint charging a motorist with any violation, other than a parking violation, under Title 39 of the Revised Statutes, a law enforcement officer shall identify on the face of the summons or complaint, whether the motorist is a holder of a commercial driver license. In other words, anyone who has a CDL and is stopped for a violation in any type of vehicle (even a non-CMV) then you must check the CDL box on the summons. This also amends the definition of a Commercial Motor Vehicle weight and you must only use the GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) that is posted on the nomenclature plate on the vehicle. This means that the vehicle weight cannot be registered lower than the GVWR on the plate.
TRAFFIC SAFETY SUMMIT & AWARDS LUNCHEON: : The National Traffic Safety Administration and The NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety will hold their 3rd Traffic Safety Summit/Governor’s Representative Award Luncheon on Tuesday, November 29, 2005 at the Sheraton Hotel, Edison, NJ beginning with breakfast at 0800 and ending at 1400. There are a number of workshops planned including Reaching the Diverse Community Through Partnerships, Identifying Fraudulent Insurance on Vehicle Stop, The Role of Parents in Underage Drinking, After the Ticket, and the Governor’s Highway Traffic Safety Policy Advisory Council Forum. The awards luncheon promptly begins at 1200. They expect a large crown so early registration is recommended. If you have not received an invitation contact the Division of Highway Traffic Safety at 609-633-9300.
GRADUATED DRIVER LICENSE: This topic came up at our last meeting with regard to the number of people an operator may have in a vehicle while on GDL. The reference is 39:3-13.2a and states, in part, that ‘any person with a Special Learner’s Permit may operate a motor vehicle on a public highway except during the hours between 11:01 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. while in the company and under the supervision, from the front passenger seat, of a licensed motor vehicle driver of this State who is over 21 years of age and has been licensed to drive a passenger automobile for at least three years. The special permit is valid until the person qualifies for a provisional license.’ “Except an instructional period of a behind-the-wheel driving course, the holder of a special permit shall operate a passenger automobile with only the following passengers: (1) the supervising passenger; (2) persons who share the permit holder’s residence; and (3) one additional passenger who does not reside with the permit holder.” Therefore, if a permit holder has more passengers in the vehicle than described herein, police have probable cause to stop the vehicle and issue a summons for the violation.
As of Week 37, 2005 , there were 447 fatalities recorded on NJ roads compared to 434 during the same period in 2004 AN INCREASE OF 13 BODIES. .
| COUNTY |
2005 |
2004 |
CHANGE |
|
COUNTY |
2005 |
2004 |
CHANGE |
| Atlantic |
41 |
24 |
+17 |
|
Bergen |
30 |
20 |
+08 |
| Burlington |
29 |
32 |
-03 |
|
Camden |
21 |
19 |
+02 |
| Cape May |
15 |
09 |
+06 |
|
Cumberland |
29 |
15 |
+14 |
| Essex |
35 |
38 |
-03 |
|
Gloucester |
17 |
12 |
+05 |
| Hudson |
16 |
13 |
+03 |
|
Hunterdon |
05 |
07 |
-02 |
| Mercer |
17 |
19 |
-02 |
|
Middlesex |
35 |
39 |
-04 |
| Monmouth |
42 |
26 |
+16 |
|
Morris |
15 |
22 |
-07 |
| Ocean |
19 |
40 |
-21 |
|
Passaic |
17 |
19 |
-02 |
| Salem |
12 |
12 |
+00 |
|
Somerset |
08 |
11 |
-03 |
| Sussex |
11 |
12 |
-01 |
|
Union |
20 |
33 |
-13 |
| Warren |
13 |
10 |
+03 |
|
|
|
|
|
As of this report, there were 244 driver deaths, 80 passengers, 76 pedestrians, 38 motorcycle drivers, 01 Motorcycle passengers, and 08 pedacyclists. There were 447 fatalities in 419 cashes.
LATEST ON SPEED HUMPS:
39:4-8.10 has been amended to include the construction of speed humps. This will allow municipalities to construct a speed hump on totally self-contained two-lane residential streets and on totally self-contained one-way residential streets under municipal jurisdiction which have no direct connection with any street in any other municipality, have fewer than 3,000 vehicles per day, with a posted speed of 30 mph or less, and on one-way streets connecting to county roads. The board of directors of any corporation, or the board of trustees of any corporation or other institution of a public or semipublic nature not for pecuniary profit, having control over private roads, may construct or provide for the construction of a speed hump on any private road subject to the provisions of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes, pursuant to P.L.1945, c.284 (C.39:5A-1 et seq.).
b. Pursuant to the provisions of section 3 of P.L.2004, c.107 (C.39:4-8.11), a municipality
may construct traffic calming measures where appropriate, which may include, but are not limited to, speed humps on streets under municipal jurisdiction which have no direct connection with any street in any other municipality, have fewer than 3,000 vehicles per day, with a posted speed of 30 mph or less, and on one-way streets connecting to county roads, when any road construction project or repair of a street set forth in this subsection is undertaken and located within 500 feet of that street is a school or any property used for school purposes. This act shall take effect on the 90th day after enactment and was approved September 13, 2005.
PRIMARY CELL PHONE LAW:
The NJPTOA unanimously voted to not support a primary cell phone law at this point in time. Part of the reasoning reflects back to when the secondary law was enacted we were told there would be a “study” period while the law is in effect and after this study period the results would be used to determine if a primary law is necessary. To date we have not seen such a study nor have we heard of any study being in progress. The Association does support legislation that would lump all distractions into one violation rather than the “piecemeal” approach. Use of cell phones while driving is included in this legislation. We also note that a number of “studies” that were published were not done on statistical data but rather were nothing more than public opinion polls. We understand that this is an emotionally charged subject and just the sight of seeing a driver talking on a cell phone can be annoying. But, when it comes to writing law, there is a major difference between a study of data, opinion polls, or what may annoy an individual. There also are a number of police officers that believe all distractions, talking on a cell phone while driving included, already are adequately covered in the careless driving statute.
The NJPTOA mourns the loss of Scotch Plains Police Chief Mark Zyla who passed away on October 14, 2005 and the age of 46 years.
ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SAFETY BELT AND BULLETPROOF VEST
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS IN THE ARMED SERVICES
|
