Linden Police to Participate in “Put the Phone Down or Pay” Statewide Enforcement Action.
Linden Police Officers will join Officers from 158 police agencies across the state in a month-long enforcement campaign targeting distracted drivers. The “Put the Phone Down or Pay” campaign, which runs throughout the month of April, is aimed at saving lives and making New Jersey roadways safer.
The annual campaign takes place during Distracted Driving Awareness month and is meant to draw attention to the dangers of distracted driving. In addition to the enforcement campaign, the Division of Highway Traffic Safety has launched a public awareness campaign that includes public service announcements on New Jersey radio stations, social media messaging, and distribution of educational materials to educate and remind drivers about the dangers of distracted driving.
Distracted driving is a dangerous epidemic on our roadways; preliminary data shows that almost half of drivers involved in crashes in New Jersey last year were engaged in distracted behavior, which resulted in 160 deaths and more than 1,400 serious injuries.
Linden was awarded a $12,250 grant to support increased enforcement efforts, the maximum amount available. Other towns in Union County awarded grants include Cranford, Elizabeth, Plainfield, Rahway and Roselle Park.
In New Jersey, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle while using a handheld electronic device. Violating this law subjects motorists to fines of $200 to $400 for a first offense and could increase to $800 with the addition of three insurance points in subsequent violations.