Stepped-up enforcement planned on 3 more roads
Police chief reports results from last year's motor vehicle program
BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer

MANALAPAN - Police officers will again be participating in a program of enhanced enforcement of motor vehicle laws on selected roads in Manalapan. A resolution providing for the stepped-up enforcement was adopted by the Township Committee on Jan. 9.

Police Chief Stuart Brown said the department will begin placing signs along the roads that have been identified for enhanced enforcement.

The targeted streets will be Old Queens Boulevard (between Pease and Gordons Corner roads); Caitlin Way (between Ten nent Road and Symmes Drive); and Pease Road (between Gordons Corner and Taylors Mills roads).

Brown said the signs will inform motorists to expect stepped-up enforcement of all motor vehicle traffic laws, particularly speeding.

According to police, the speed limit on Old Queens Boulevard is 25 mph; the speed limit on Caitlin Way is 25 mph; and the speed limit on Pease Road between Taylors Mills and Gordons Corner roads is 30 mph.

As a point of information, the speed limit on Pease Road between Gordons Corner and Union Hill roads is 35 mph, except when the Pine Brook School is in session, during which time the speed limit on that stretch of Pease Road is 25 mph.

Brown said anyone who receives a ticket on Old Queens Boulevard, Caitlin Way or Pease Road (between Gordons Corner and Taylors Mills roads) after the warning signs have been posted can pretty much kiss goodbye any leeway they may have had in making a plea for lesser charges in order to avoid fines and points on their driver's license.

Brown said that typically, in order to avoid getting points placed on their license that could eventually result in a license suspension or revocation, drivers are allowed to plea whatever violation they have been charged with down to what is known as driving or operating a vehicle in an unsafe manner.

The chief has explained that pleading down charges is a trade-off because although the driver can avoid points being placed against his license, he pays a higher fine. According to Brown, motorists are only permitted two chances to plea bargain for a lesser charge before

they face the fact of receiving points on their license no

matter what new charges

are negotiated with the

court.

Last year the Manalapan

roads that were

targeted for enhanced

enforcement between

July and December were Willow Grove Way in the Holiday North residential development, Blenheim Road in the Holiday Park residential development and Woodward Road (between Sweetmans Lane and Route 33).

According to Brown, 10 moving violations requiring court appearances were issued on Willow Grove Way along with nine non-moving violations during the period of enhanced enforcement.

He said non-moving violations do not require a court appearance and can be anything from having a headlight or a taillight out to not having the proper paperwork ready for presentation when stopped by a police officer.

Brown said on Blenheim Road there were 15 moving violations issued and 17 non-moving violations issued during the period of enhanced enforcement.

Brown said the Woodward Road enhanced enforcement effort resulted in 44 moving violations and 49 non-moving violations.

The chief said the ultimate decision regarding fines lies with the municipal court judge. However, Brown said drivers who are issued a summons in one of the enhanced enforcement zones can expect their options in court to be severely limited.-