Lower Township Police Make June Cellphone Enforcement, Awareness Month

LOWER TOWNSHIP – The Lower Township Police Department has announced that officers will be paying particular attention to motorists operating motor vehicles while talking or texting on their cell phones during the month of June.
Lower Township Police Chief, Edward Donohue noted that along with complaints of speeders on certain streets, that the township routinely receives, the police department has also been receiving complaints of increased use of cell phones by motorists.
The Police Department chose the month of June to bring attention to cell phone use by motorist, due to the fact that our schools will soon be out for the summer and the roads will be filled with more pedestrians, bicyclist and moped riders, along with the increased volume of traffic that occurs during our summer season.
Donohue said, “Our intent is not to deluge our residents and visitors with summonses, but rather to draw public attention to the fact that operating a motor vehicle while talking or texting on the cell phone in New Jersey is a violation of our motor vehicle laws and is also extremely dangerous.”
“We want to send a clear message that if you are operating a motor vehicle in Lower Township while talking or texting on a cell phone, you will have a good chance of being stopped for that violation.”
Donohue would agree that more motorists are utilizing cell phones while operating motor vehicles.
“From my own personal experience while out jogging on our roadways, sometimes every 4th or 5th vehicle that passes me will have a driver talking on their cell phones.”
The Chief noted that police officers while on duty are exempt from the cell phone statute, though officers are encouraged to pull off to the side of the road if they anticipate having a lengthy conversation with police dispatch, on their cell phone.
The Cell Phone Statute; 39:4-97.3 states, the use of a wireless telephone or electronic communication device by an operator of a moving motor vehicle on a public road or highway, shall be unlawful except when the telephone is a hands free wireless telephone.
The operator of a motor vehicle may use a hand held wireless telephone while driving with one hand on the steering wheel only if:
1. The Operator has reason to fear for his life or safety or believes that a criminal act may be perpetrated against himself or another person or;
2. The operator is using the telephone to report to the appropriate authorities, a fire, a traffic accident, a serious road hazard or a medical emergency or to report the operator of another motor vehicle who is driving in a reckless, careless or otherwise unsafe manner or who appears to be driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Use of a wireless telephone or electronic communication device shall include, but not be limited to:
Talking or listening to another person on the telephone.
Text messaging or sending an electronic message via the wireless telephone.