Did this enterprising cop am"bush" distracted drivers? You be the judge! Actually, there are lots of techniques to catch drivers who are texting while at the wheel, gabbing on their cell phones, and doing other technology-based things besides paying total attention to the road. One police officer in New Jersey decked himself out to look like a shrub so he could nab those multi-tasking motorists. The ploy worked well. In fact, per the New York Post, this cop snagged a whopping 74 of them!
Videos by Wide Open Country
The fine if a driver gets caught with a device like a phone in their hand is not chump change. Per the outlet, it's $200 to $400 for a first offense.
The Dunellen Borough Police Department Posted About the Green Gambit on Facebook
To reinforce their message about the dangers of distracted driving, the Dunellen Borough Police Department wrote about this undercover mission on
Facebook. Their post read as follows. "Did you spot our "shrub" today? If you had your head buried in your phone, probably not!Today, the Dunellen Police Department conducted a Distracted Driving Enforcement Detail on the 100 block of North Washington Ave. We specifically chose this highly-trafficked, pedestrian-heavy downtown area to enforce New Jersey's Handheld Cell Phone Law and protect our community.
The results? Our 'shrub' was busy. We issued 74 citations to drivers distracted by their devices in a six-hour window.
Let this be a reminder: That text or notification can wait. Keep your eyes on the road, not your screen!"
The Public Presented Some Snappy Wisecracks in Response
Some commenters could not resist the urge to make a joke or two about the offbeat approach this cop took. However, hopefully, they still got the serious message that distracted driving is never okay.
Wrote one, "How much are the tickets? Tree hundred"
From another came this sassy remark. "Operation: Bushwhacked....?"
And there was this observation. "Being on your phone should get you the embarrassment of getting your ticket handed to you by green sasquatch on the watch."
Someone else chimed in this way. "now that is what i call,,,,,Planting an undercover police officer"
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