Now Reading: New Jersey police in tree disguise catch 74 distracted drivers
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New Jersey police in tree disguise catch 74 distracted drivers
A New Jersey police officer disguised as a roadside tree helped catch 74 distracted drivers in a six-hour operation. The Dunellen Police Department used the officer in a green ghillie suit as…
The Story in Brief
A New Jersey police officer disguised as a roadside tree helped catch 74 distracted drivers in a six-hour operation. The Dunellen Police Department used the officer in a green ghillie suit as a public awareness tactic before plainclothes officers issued citations on July 29, 2026. The campaign targeted motorists using mobile phones while driving. New Jersey law bans handheld phone use while driving, with fines starting at $200. Officials said the operation aimed to reduce preventable crashes caused by inattentive drivers.
The Indian Opinion
Some critics will dismiss the tree-disguise as a gimmick, but 74 citations in six hours prove the tactic caught real offenders. The real narrative to watch is whether such creative enforcement changes driver behaviour long-term or just triggers a game of hide-and-seek. New Jersey already has strict hands-free laws; the question is how many of the 74 drivers were repeat offenders, and whether the department will release that number.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
