A Message from Chief Rotella: Since the beginning of the year, I have had the opportunity to speak with a few residents regarding some of the different traffic safety programs offered through the Police Department. These programs are all part of the Police Department and Mayor’s Safety Committee’s continuing efforts to raise awareness on important traffic safety initiatives. The goal of these initiatives is to make for safer roadways thus protecting those living in or passing through our community. Click It or Ticket, Schools Open Drive Carefully and Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaigns are familiar to most of us. Unfortunately, I have found that two programs the Move over Awareness Law and the Idle Free Zone are not very well known. Both these programs help to save lives. One works to protect emergency service personnel while the other promotes environmental air quality awareness. Below is a brief description of both laws. Move Over Awareness Law (39:4-92.2): Drivers approaching stationary emergency vehicles, tow trucks and other highway safety vehicles displaying red, blue and/or amber flashing lights must move over one lane or, if not safe to move over, then slow down below the posted speed limit. Failing to do so could lead to a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500. Idle Free: In 2009, the Upper Saddle River Mayor and Council adopted a resolution titled Idle-Free Zones. The resolution highlights public locations such as school drop-off and pick-up areas, gas stations and parking lots as places where frequent idling occurs. Idling your vehicle is not only a waste of gas but it also adds harmful containments to the air. Violations of existing state regulations (39:3-70.2) on idling vehicles, carry fines of up to $250 for the 1st violation and up to $1,000 per offense subsequent offense. As of March 1, 2014 Officer Ken Osborne will be assigned as the Police Department’s full-time traffic safety officer. A traffic safety officer is a proven and effective way to improve vehicular and pedestrian safety within any community. Officer Osborne will be responsible for a variety of traffic safety functions that include but are not limited to enforcement operations, deployment of traffic equipment, commercial vehicle enforcement, accident investigations, child seat installations and safety presentations/educational outreach programs. Please feel free to contact Officer Osborne if you should have a traffic safety related question/complaint or wish to obtain literature on different traffic safety programs.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Feb 2014 12:24:23 +0000
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