Route 539 Crackdown On Dangerous Drivers Pays Off, Prosecutor Says

SOUTHERN OCEAN COUNTY - Route 539 was a safer roadway during the massive summer enforcement crackdown by multiple police departments, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato said.

“The initiative raised significant awareness among the motoring public regarding the safety issues along County Road 539, but more important it has coordinated efforts by Ocean County Law Enforcement, Engineering and Road Departments to take important steps toward making commuting along County Road 539 safer,” he said.

The program began on July 20 with two days of saturation enforcement and ended on Aug. 6. Police from a number of area police departments issued 109 summonses after stopping 268 vehicles.

Speeding violations topped the detail list with 31 summons issued. Commercial vehicles vehicles were cited for 15 violations. There were two arrests for drug possession.

"The participating departments were happy to observe that the majority of motorists were choosing to drive responsibly. There were no fatalities or accidents involving serious injury during the period," Coronato said.

Officers were on the lookout for improper passing, excessive speed, driving while under the influence, aggressive driving, improper turning, failing to yield, inattentive driving, disregard of traffic signal, following too, and commercial carrier violations such as overweight, equipment maintenance and brake pressure.

The campaign helped coordinate efforts by Ocean County law enforcement, engineering and road departments to keep the roadway safer. The Route 539 initiative between Tuckerton and Plumsted Borough wound through 38 miles of roadway in seven municipalities.

The municipalities include Little Egg Harbor, Stafford, Barnegat, Lacey, Manchester, Plumsted and Jackson townships. The two-lane highway runs southeast to northwest through Ocean County and is frequently used by local seniors, commuters traveling to the Trenton area, tourists looking to vacation along the Jersey Shore and a large amount of commercial trucks.

The partnership is the result of extensive meetings between Coronato and with local police chiefs, county officers and officials, New Jersey State Police and the Ocean County Road/Engineering Departments to address CR539 safety issues.

The campaign involved the following agencies:

Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office

Ocean County Sheriff’s Department

NJ State Police Troop “C” – Red Lion and Tuckerton Stations

NJ State Police Troop “C” – Tactical Patrol Unit

NJ State Police – Transportation Safety Bureau

Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders

Ocean County Road Department

Ocean County Engineering Department

Barnegat Police Department

Jackson Police Department

Lacey Police Department

Little Egg Harbor Police Department

Manchester Police Department

Plumsted Police Department

Stafford Police Department

Tuckerton Police Department

Office of Highway Traffic Safety

The education element will continue with signage, media postings, radio public service announcements, awareness posters and coordinated social media postings by all the partnering agencies.

"Now that the partnership logistics and plans have been worked out, the coordinated enforcement element can be quickly reinstituted in the event of increased reports of accidents or dangerous driving behaviors," Coronato said.

Photo: Courtesy of Ocean County Prosecutor's Office