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DUNELLEN, NJ – A New Jersey police department used an unusual tactic on Wednesday to bust distracted drivers on a busy street. Helped by an officer disguised as a shrub, who used binoculars to identify drivers breaking the law that forbids the handheld use of cell phones when driving, the department issued 74 citations in a six-hour period.
A Facebook post by the department asked, “Did you spot our ‘shrub’ today? If you had your head buried in your phone, probably not.”
The officer dressed in the shrubbery – looking more like a swamp creature from a horror movie than an everyday rhododendron – had a busy day in the 100 block of North Washington Ave. The department said, “We specifically chose this highly-trafficked, pedestrian-heavy downtown area to enforce New Jersey’s Handheld Cell Phone Law and protect our community.”
The state’s cell phone law prohibits drivers from using handheld devices while operating a motor vehicle. First time offenders face a fine of $200 to $400.
The department’s Facebook post emphasized, “Let this be a reminder: That text or notification can wait. Keep your eyes on the road, not your screen!”
