'Put The Phone Away Or Pay,' Metuchen Police Say

METUCHEN, NJ — During the month of April, the Metuchen Police Department will be stepping up efforts to stop drivers who are texting or talking on the phone behind the wheel.

The department is participating in the “Put the Phone Away or Pay” campaign, which runs from April 1-30.

MPD is among 158 law enforcement agencies to 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.

Metuchen received $7,000 in grant for the program.

In 2023, New Jersey saw nearly half of crash-involved drivers engaged in distracted behavior, according to preliminary data. This distraction led to 160 deaths and over 1,400 serious injuries.

New Jersey State Police received an additional $211,820 specifically for distracted driving enforcement on the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and other roads under their patrol.

The Division of Highway Traffic Safety has launched a public awareness campaign 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 Matthew Platkin.

"Staying focused behind the wheel from the moment you step into your car is crucial in preventing a possible tragedy."

The previous year's distracted driving enforcement resulted in 9,055 citations for cell phone use (including texting) and nearly 4,800 for careless driving.

Here are the Middlesex County Towns that are receiving grants for the program:

• 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

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