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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, SEPTEMBER 6, 2006, 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: On a sad note, I recently heard of the passing of NJDOT Tom Prettyman. Tom worked for DOT for many years and always made time to talk with and help traffic officers. We offer our sincere condolences to his family and coworkers. I can’t believe how quickly the summer has passed. It won’t be long before schools reopen so now would be a good time to assess conditions along school routes and get them taken care of before school begins. Check with your local AAA for “School’s Open” signs and post them along school routes. As our lawmakers wrestle with budgets and taxes they should also consider ways to improve traffic safety in New Jersey. Even a casual look at New Jersey fatalities should be more than enough to convince anyone something must be done to reduce the carnage on our highways as quickly as possible. As of week 32, 417 people were killed on NJ roads compared to 373 during the same period in 2005, an increase of 44 bodies. At the close of 2005 there were 743 deaths. At the rate we are going we will top last years total. It’s so sad for the people in New Jersey. This should be an eye opener for police and the people in New Jersey government. Weather forecasters are predicting that NJ will be hit with a major hurricane this year. Review your preparedness program and evacuation routes. Stay Safe - Bill NHTSA CHIEF MINETA’S TERM EXPIRED ON JULY 6, 2006: Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, the first Asian-American Cabinet member in the Clinton administration and reappointed by President Bush, is the longest serving Secretary in the history of the US DOT. He headed the agency with almost 60,000 employees and a $61.6 billion budget. Mineta was responsible for a major security buildup in response to September 11, 2001. He is credited with establishing the Transportation Security Agency that put thousands of air marshals on commercial flights, installed high-tech equipment to check baggage at airports, and hired tens of thousands of workers to screen air travelers and their baggage. One of his main achievements was the passage of a six-year, $286.4 billion highway-spending plan in July of 2006.  BASIC ENGINEERING FOR POLICE TRAFFIC OFFICERS: Each fall the Basic Engineering for Police Traffic Officers course is offered for the Police Traffic Officer responsible for conducting traffic investigations and making recommendations to supervisors, local government officials, and engineering departments concerning the need for installing or reviewing traffic control devices. The course covers general traffic engineering principles; determining the need for traffic control devices; traffic signal design and operation; design of proper pavement markings; type, design and placement of regulatory, warning, and guide signs; traffic controls in construction and maintenance work areas, and school zones; and procedures for drafting and adopting ordinances and resolutions. This year the course is being held at Rutgers University Camden Campus in the Fine Arts Center, Room 225 on September 7, 14, 21, 28; October 5, 12, 19, 26; November 2, 9, 13, 6:45 - 9:45 p.m. [10 Thursday evenings and 1 Monday evening]. Instructors are William Anderson and David Martin. For registration or further information contact the Center for Government Services, Rutgers University, 732/932-3640, ext. 648. Fax: 732/932-3586. Cost: $660 NJAAR BACK TO BASICS SEMINAR: The NJAAR is hosting a two-day crash investigation/reconstruction conference entitled "Back to Basics" on September 7 and 8, 2006 at the Middlesex County Fire Academy in Sayreville. The conference runs daily from 0800 to 1600 hours. The cost of the conference is $20.00. Refreshments will be provided. Go to www.NJAAR.org where you can download registration forms and obtain further information. Completed forms must be mailed with a check or Purchase Order to NJAAR, PO Box 8138, Bridgewater, NJ 08807. The course is open to all NJAAR and NJPTOA members. 
BASIC ENGINEERING FOR POLICE TRAFFIC OFFICERS: This course is being offered again by Rutgers University and runs for 10 Thursdays and 1 Monday between September 7th and November 13th, 6:45 - 9:45 PM. Cost is $660. Call 732-932-3640, ext. 648 for more information and a registration form. As of Week 32 there were 417 fatalities recorded on NJ roads compared to 373 during the same period in 2005, AN INCREASE OF 44 BODIES.
There were 210 Driver deaths, 75 Passengers, 83 Pedestrians, 40 Motorcycle Drivers, 04 Motorcycle Passengers, and 05 Pedacyclists. There were 417 fatalities in 390 cashes. SELECTED SHORTS: In Burley, Idaho, a State Trooper had a perfect spot to watch for speeders, but wasn't getting any. Then he discovered the problem. A 12-year-old boy was standing up the road with a hand-painted sign that read "RADAR TRAP AHEAD!" The officer later found a young accomplice down the road with a sign reading, "TIPS" and a bucket full of money. This is more profitable than selling lemonade and a lot less work! In Boise, Idaho, a motorist was mailed a picture of his car speeding through an automated radar post. A $40 speeding ticket was included. Being cute, he sent the police department a picture of $40. The police responded with another photo of a pair of handcuffs. Sometimes it’s better to pay than be “cute!” 
TO BEE OR NOT TO BEE: A teenage driver in Ossian, Indiana, crashed into a hollow tree and stirred up tens of thousands of angry honeybees, creating a swarm that sent her and nine others to the hospital. Fire Chief Kent Gilbert, who was stung at least 50 times while trying to pull the 16-year old driver from the wreckage said "Those bees were mad and I've never seen bees, especially honeybees, attack like that." The young lady’s SUV slammed into the tree after she lost control on a gravel road about 10 miles south of Fort Wayne. By the time rescuers arrived a black cloud of buzzing insects had engulfed the car forcing firefighters to wear full safety gear, complete with oxygen tanks and facemasks, with temperatures in the 90s. Workers doused the bees with water and foam while they tried to free the driver who was taken to a hospital with broken legs and multiple bee stings. LEGISLATIVE STUFF: A-175 (A-619) Bramnick(21); Stender(22); Cohen(20): Requires motorists to stop for pedestrians in or waiting to enter crosswalks. A-496 Bateman(16): Requires certain notices when public agencies take possession of abandoned vehicle. A-617 Malone(30), Wisniewski, (19): Establishes Teenage Driving Commission. A-1038 Van Drew, (1); Skinner's and Michelle's Law; increases penalties for leaving scene of motor vehicle accident resulting in death or serious bodily injury. A-1192 Diegnan(18): Abigail's Law; requires that newly-manufactured school buses be equipped with sensors. S-804 James(29): Clarifies public entities' immunities under the "New Jersey Tort Claims Act" for traffic signs and signals. S-1074 Littell(24): Authorizes people with mobility related disabilities to operate scooters on public property. S-1079 Singer(30): Establishes penalty for failing to comply with school crossing guard's signal to stop. A-3351 Bateman(16): Exempts law enforcement, fire, and other emergency vehicles from idling restrictions when operators thereof are engaged in official duties. A-3372 Fisher(3): Requires new State residents to register their vehicles in New Jersey. A-3384 Wisniewski: Clarifies that penalties for unauthorized parking in handicapped parking space are effective even when not posted. S-2083 Kavanaugh(16): Permits waivers from window tinting standards. A-3510 Moriarty(4): Provides that public employee pension benefits are calculated on base salary exclusive of various forms of extra compensation. Training Notice: Middlesex County Police Training Center is hosting a Crash Reconstruction Class presented by IPTM from September 25, 2006 to October 6, 2006. There is no cost for this class as it is part of the NJDHTS/NJSP crash training programs. Contact the Training Center at 732-225-0750 for more information and/or registration. 
ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SAFETY BELT AND BULLETPROOF VEST SUPPORT OUR TROOPS IN THE ARMED SERVICES NEXT MEETING: SEPTEMBER 6, Somerville Elks Club, Route 28 (Union Avenue) Bridgewater |