Over 100 New Jersey police departments now have access to funds totaling $540,000 for the state’s crackdown on drunk driving slated to begin immediately and extend through Labor Day weekend. The funds, delivered via overtime grants from the state’s Division of Highway Traffic Safety, are expected to bring police departments across New Jersey the all hands on deck support that they have been seeking in order to target driving while intoxicated (DWI) offenses.

Twice a year, New Jersey rolls out its “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign and the campaign is now up and running and will continue till September 3^rd. While the funds are only allocated for 110 police departments, another 300+ departments, including State Police, will be stepping up their efforts to identify and arrest drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, even without additional funding from the state.

Studies have shown that driving intoxicated (drugs or alcohol) was the major factor in more than a quarter of New Jersey’s 591 traffic fatalities in 2017. Of those 158 accidents attributed to intoxicated driving from either drugs or alcohol, a startling 174 people were killed.

In a statement from Eric Heitmann, the Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, Heitmann said, “If you’re out there driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the odds are we’re going to stop you and arrest you.”

Police officers across the state made 1,196 DWI arrests and issued a staggering 4,764 speeding violations during the previous summer campaign. In addition, police officers issued 3,194 seat belt violations and ticketed another 1,490 drivers for cell phone and/or texting offenses. In short, there were a lot of laws being broken, and police departments hope that the additional funding will bolster their efforts to make the roads safer for all of us. During the latest campaign alone, officers were able to establish 20 DWI checkpoints and deliver 6,200 extra hours patrolling the streets, roads, and highways of New Jersey.

The next campaign comes during the holiday season. Looking back at the statistics from the past holiday season—Dec. 7, 2018 to Jan. 1—police officers made 1,269 DWI arrests taking a significant amount of impaired or intoxicated drivers off the roads. Additionally, they delivered over 5,704 speeding tickets and 3,125 seat belt citations as well. But as we know, driving while texting can be just as deadly as the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, and as such the Division of Highway Traffic Safety conducts a yearly campaign to stop ‘texting and driving’ and yet another specifically targeting seat belt offenders.

The much-needed statewide funding was issued to the following departments:

Atlantic County

Atlantic City $5,500
Egg Harbor Township $5,500
Galloway $5,500
Hamilton $5,500
Hammonton $5,500
Mullica $5,500

Bergen County

Bergenfield $5,500
Fort Lee $5,500
Garfield $5,500
Hillsdale $5,500
Lyndhurst $5,500
Mahwah $5,500
Maywood $5,500
New Milford $5,500
Paramus $5,500
Teaneck $5,500

Burlington County

Bordentown Township $5,500
Cinnaminson $5,500
Delran $5,500
Evesham $5,500
Medford Lakes $5,500
Mount Laurel $5,500
New Hanover $5,500
Palmyra $5,500
Riverside $5,500

Camden County

Camden County $5,500
Gloucester Township $5,500
Haddon Heights $5,500
Pennsauken $5,500
Pine Hill $5,500
Stratford $5,500

Cape May County

Lower Township $5,500
Middle Township $5,500
North Wildwood $5,500

Cumberland County

Bridgeton $5,500
Vineland $5,500

Essex County

Bloomfield $5,500
Essex County Sheriff $5,500

Gloucester County

Deptford $5,500
East Greenwich $2,200
Elk $2,200
Glassboro $5,500
Greenwich $1,760
Harrison $2,200
Logan $2,200
Mantua $5,500
Monroe $2,200
Pitman $2,200
Rowan University $2,640
Washington $5,500
Westville $2,640
Woolwich $2,640

Hudson County

Guttenberg $5,500
Hoboken $5,500
Hudson County Sheriff $5,500
Jersey City $5,500
Kearny $5,500
Union City $5,500

Hunterdon County

Clinton $5,500
Lebanon $2,640
West Amwell $2,640
Mercer County

Ewing $5,500
Hamilton $5,500
Hightstown $5,500
Trenton, $5,500

Middlesex County

Dunellen $5,500
Edison $5,500
Monroe $5,500
North Brunswick $5,500
Old Bridge $5,500
Sayreville $5,500

Monmouth County

Allentown $5,500
Brielle $5,500
Eatontown $5,500
Howell $5,500
Middletown $5,500

Morris County

Chester Township $5,500
Hanover $5,500
Jefferson $5,500
Morris County Park Police $5,500
Morristown $5,500
Parsippany-Troy Hills $5,500
Rockaway Borough $5,500
Rockaway Township $5,500

Ocean County

Berkeley $5,500
Jackson $5,500
Seaside Heights $5,500

Passaic County

Bloomingdale $5,500
Clifton $5,500
City of Passaic $5,500
Passaic County Sheriff $5,500
Paterson $5,500
Pompton Lakes $5,500
Woodland Park $5,500

Salem County

Carneys Point $5,500

Somerset County

Bedminster $2,640
Branchburg $2,640
Green Brook $2,640
Hillsborough $2,640
Manville $2,640
Montgomery $2,640
Somerville $2,640
South Bound Brook $2,640
Warren $2,640

Sussex County

Franklin Borough $5,500
Hopatcong $5,500
Sparta $5,500
Vernon $5,500

Union County

Linden $5,500
Union Township $5,500

Warren County

Hackettstown $5,500

News Source: www.nj.com

Legal weed is a possibility for New Jersey this year. While the state currently allows medicinal use of cannabis for residents with a prescription, the legalization of recreational use and possession would change the game in a major way. Currently, there are only six medical marijuana dispensaries in all of New Jersey. If legal recreational weed becomes a reality, that number could grow exponentially.

Cannabis could be delivered to users’ doorsteps, like a hot and ready pizza. Hotels and casinos would be allowed to dedicate up to 20% of their available space to creating areas for guests to use legal weed. Those cities who chose not to opt out of legalization would have the option to tax cannabis products up to 3%, resulting in major financial gains.

After two long years of bargains and debates, only 10 more votes are needed between the Senate and the Assembly for the Cannabis Regulatory and Expungement Aid Modernization Act to pass. Remaining details, like how many dispensaries would be allowed throughout the state, would be left up to the Cannabis Regulatory Commission. The five-person commission would separately regulate both recreational and medical marijuana. Recreational purchases would be taxed, while medicinal purchases would be exempt.

As the bill currently stands, cannabis growers would be taxed at a rate of $42 per ounce. Cities that allow dispensaries would also be permitted to tax those businesses, along with growers and wholesalers. Before these tax guidelines were even announced, over 60 cities and towns made the decision to ban weed related businesses. The fact that polls show over 60% of New Jersey residents supporting legalization is hoped to bring many towns around to participating at some point in the future.

The current weed legalization bill in New Jersey is unique from those in other states for three reasons. First, licenses would only be given out to applicants who had been living in the state for at least two years. Secondly, the commission would be required to award 30% of licenses to African Americans, women, and disabled veterans. Finally, 25% of licenses would be given to microbusiness owners. These provisions are designed to offset the former disproportionate targeting of minorities for marijuana-related arrests and to shield the new weed industry from being immediately snatched up by big business. In addition, residents with past marijuana convictions would see their records expunged.

While opponents voice concerns over marijuana use and driving, the writing may already be on the wall. As neighboring states consider legalization and the revenue it promises, New Jersey could be hit hard, financially, if it passes over this opportunity. Current medical dispensaries across the state fully expect the new bill to pass and are preparing expansions in order to provide for the explosion of recreational consumers.

News Source: www.Philly.com