NJ’s Distracted Driving Crackdown Begins: Here’s Where

NEW JERSEY — During the month of April, police departments around New Jersey are stepping up efforts to stop drivers who are texting or talking on the phone behind the wheel.

The “Put the Phone Away or Pay” campaign runs from April 1-30, and 158 law enforcement agencies will get a grant from the state to crack down on distracted driving.

The Attorney General’s Office and Division of Highway Traffic Safety announced that $1 million will be split among these departments to pay for extra patrols, with amounts ranging from $1,400 to $12,250. This includes local police departments in 19 counties, the Atlantic and Somerset County Sheriff's offices, and Rowan University Police.

In 2023, almost half of drivers involved in crashes in New Jersey were engaged in distracted behavior, preliminary data shows — which resulted in 160 deaths and more than 1,400 serious injuries, officials said.

New Jersey State Police received an additional $211,820 for distracted driving enforcement on the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and other roads that they patrol, officials added.

And, the Division of Highway Traffic Safety has also launched a public awareness campaign to educate drivers about the dangers of distracted driving.

“Combining public awareness campaigns like this with increased enforcement efforts against distracted driving help ensure that drivers keep their attention on the road and off their phones,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Staying focused behind the wheel from the moment you step into your car is crucial in preventing a possible tragedy."

Last year's distracted driving crackdown resulted in 9,055 citations for cell phone use (including texting) and almost 4,800 for careless driving, officials said.

The following municipalities are receiving grants, according to the Division of Highway Safety:

Atlantic Co.

• Absecon: $2,800
• Atlantic City: $12,250
• Atlantic Co. Sheriff: $1,400
• Brigantine: $3,500
• Egg Harbor City: $1,400
• Egg Harbor Township: $12,250
• Galloway: $8,960
• Hamilton: $8,750
• Hammonton: $5,600
• Margate: $2,450
• Mullica: $7,000
• Northfield: $2,800
• Ventnor: $4,200

Bergen Co.

• Bergenfield: $7,000
• Cliffside Park: $7,000
• Closter: $7,000
• East Rutherford: $8,750
• Edgewater: $7,000
• Elmwood Park: $8,750
• Fair Lawn: $12,250
• Fairview: $12,250
• Fort Lee: $12,250
• Franklin Lakes: $7,000
• Haworth: $7,000
• Leonia: $7,000
• Lodi: $8,750
• Montvale: $8,750
• New Milford: $7,000
• North Arlington: $7,000
• Palisades Park: $12,250
• Teaneck: $12,250
• Upper Saddle River: $7,000

Burlington Co.

• Burlington Township: $7,000
• Evesham: $12,250
• Mount Laurel: $7,000
• Pemberton: $7,000

Camden Co.

• Bellmawr: $7,000
• Gloucester Township: $12,250
• Lawnside: $10,500
• Pine Hill: $7,000
• Runnemede: $7,000
• Stratford: $7,000
• Voorhees: $7,000
• Waterford: $7,000
• Winslow: $12,250

Cape May Co.

• Lower: $3,500
• Middle: $4,200
• North Wildwood: $2,800
• Wildwood: $4,200
• Wildwood Crest: $2,800

Cumberland Co.

• Vineland: $12,250

Essex Co.

• Bloomfield: $7,000
• Caldwell: $7,000
• Cedar Grove: $7,000
• East Orange: $7,000
• Fairfield: $7,000
• Glen Ridge: $7,000
• Livingston: $12,250
• Maplewood: $8,750
• Millburn: $7,000
• Monroe: $12,250
• Montclair: $12,250
• Nutley: $7,000
• Orange: $7,000
• South Orange: $8,750
• Verona: $7,000
• West Caldwell: $7,000
• West Orange: $7,000

Gloucester Co.

• Clayton: $2,520
• Deptford: $7,000
• East Greenwich: $2,800
• Franklin: $7,000
• Glassboro: $7,000
• Harrison: $2,800
• Logan: $5,600
• Mantua: $5,600
• Monroe: $7,000
• Paulsboro: $2,800
• Pitman: $4,200
• Rowan University: $4,200
• Washington: $7,000
• West Deptford: $5,600
• Westville: $4,200
• Woodbury: $5,600
• Woolwich: $4,200

Hudson Co.

• Bayonne: $12,250
• Guttenberg: $7,000
• Harrison: $7,000
• North Bergen: $12,250
• Secaucus: $8,750
• Union City: $8,750

Hunterdon Co.

• Clinton Town: $1,680
• Clinton Township: $7,000
• Flemington: $5,250
• Frenchtown: $2,800
• High Bridge: $2,450
• Holland: $1,400
• Lebanon: $2,800
• Raritan Township: $2,520
• Readington: $2,800
• Tewksbury: $2,800

Mercer Co.

• Ewing: $7,000
• Hamilton: $12,250
• Lawrence: $12,250

Middlesex Co.

• Carteret: $7,000
• Dunellen: $7,000
• Highland Park: $7,000
• Metuchen: $7,000
• Middlesex: $7,000
• Old Bridge: $12,250
• Piscataway: $7,000
• Plainsboro: $7,000
• South Brunswick: $7,000
• South Plainfield: $7,000

Monmouth Co.

• Freehold Borough: $7,000
• Howell: $7,000
• Marlboro: $12,250
• Red Bank: $8,750

Morris Co.

• Hanover: $8,750
• Jefferson: $7,000
• Mount Olive: $7,000
• Parsippany-Troy Hills: $12,250

Ocean Co.

• Jackson: $7,000
• Lakehurst: $8,750
• Lakewood: $12,250
• Ocean Township: $7,000
• Stafford: $8,750

Passaic Co.

• Hawthorne: $7,000
• Little Falls: $7,000
• Passaic: $12,250
• Paterson: $12,250

Somerset Co.

• Bedminster: $2,800
• Bernards: $2,800
• Bernardsville: $1,400
• Bound Brook: $2,800
• Branchburg: $2,800
• Bridgewater: $3,500
• Far Hills: $2,800
• Franklin Township: $7,000
• Green Brook: $2,800
• Hillsborough: $7,000
• Manville: $7,000
• Montgomery: $2,800
• North Plainfield: $7,000
• Peapack Gladstone: $7,000
• Raritan Borough: $2,800
• Somerset Co. Sheriff: $2,800
• Somerville: $1,400
• South Bound Brook: $1,400
• Warren: $2,800

Sussex Co.

• Hamburg: $7,000
• Sparta: $7,000

Union Co.

• Cranford: $7,000
• Elizabeth: $7,000
• Linden: $12,250
• Plainfield: $8,750
• Rahway: $12,250
• Roselle Park: $7,000

It is illegal in NJ to operate a motor vehicle while using a handheld electronic device; violators face fines of $200-400 dollars for a first offense. This could increase to $800 with the addition of three insurance points in subsequent violations.