Traffic Ticket Decline in New Jersey?
I have to say that there are few things that come as a shocker, having been practicing defense work in NJ for almost twenty years. However, the article I read in the Asbury Park Press over the weekend indicating a decline in NJ traffic summons statistics hit me from no where. I cannot say that our traffic defense case load has declined nor have we noticed less congestion in Court. Nonetheless, the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts reported a 2% reduction in traffic summonses statewide.
Warren County saw the biggest reduction in traffic tickets at 16% over the prior year. Ocean County was second with a 11% decline in summonses for a traffic violation. Monmouth County was down 4%. In terms of individual municipalities, Seaside Heights saw the biggest decline in Ocean County at 50%. In Monmouth County, Colts Neck was down 43%, Belmar down 34%, and Ocean Township was down 4%. Middlesex County is down 6% overall in issuance of traffic tickets, with the individual municipalities of Cartaret down 25%, Perth Amboy 21%, Old Bridge 20%, and Edison 17%. In Union County, tickets are down 4%, with New Providence down 63%, Fanwood 45%, Roselle Park 29%, Scotch Plains 23% and Springfield 23%.
I suspect that some of the individual towns with declining figures are in contract years with their police departments. Nonetheless, the overall decline cannot be attributed to this factor. Could it be that the decline is a reflection of police sympathy for motorist suffering in these tough times?
