Legal landscape note: This article was originally published in 2019 and describes the law as it stood at that time. New Jersey law changes frequently.
You glanced at your phone at a red light, and now there is a patrol car in your mirror. A texting-while-driving ticket in New Jersey carries real penalties, including fines and, for repeat offenses, the risk of license suspension. In 2019, the state put grant money behind the crackdown: the police departments listed below received "UDrive. UText. UPay" enforcement funds to step up patrols targeting distracted driving. See if your town is on the list.
2019 Enforcement Grant Awards by County
Atlantic County: Absecon PD $5,500.00, Atlantic City PD $5,500.00, Egg Harbor Twp PD $5,500.00, Galloway PD $5,500.00, Hamilton PD $5,500.00, Hammonton PD $5,500.00, Northfield PD $5,500.00, Stockton University PD $5,500.00
Bergen County: Bergenfield PD $5,500.00, Carlstadt PD $5,500.00, Closter PD $5,500.00, Edgewater PD $5,500.00, Elmwood Park PD $5,500.00, Fair Lawn PD $5,500.00, Fairview PD $5,500.00, Fort Lee PD $5,500.00, Franklin Lakes PD $5,500.00, Garfield PD $5,500.00, Glen Rock PD $5,500.00
Burlington County: Burlington Twp PD $5,500.00, Cinnaminson PD $5,500.00, Delanco PD $5,500.00, Delran PD $5,500.00, Lumberton PD $5,500.00, Medford PD $5,500.00, Mount Laurel PD $5,500.00, New Hanover PD $5,500.00, Pemberton PD $5,500.00
Camden County: Barrington PD $5,500.00, Bellmawr PD $5,500.00, Berlin Twp PD $5,500.00, Brooklawn PD $5,500.00, Camden County Metro $5,500.00, Cherry Hill PD $5,500.00, Chesilhurst PD $5,500.00, Gloucester Twp PD $5,500.00, Haddon Heights PD $5,500.00, Lawnside PD $5,500.00, Lindenwold PD $5,500.00, Merchantville PD $5,500.00, Pine Hill PD $5,500.00, Stratford PD $5,500.00, Winslow PD $5,500.00, Lower PD $5,500.00, Wildwood PD $5,500.00
Cumberland County: Bridgeton PD $5,500.00
Essex County: Belleville PD $5,500.00, Bloomfield PD $5,500.00, Fairfield PD $5,500.00, Maplewood PD $5,500.00, Millburn PD $5,500.00, Montclair PD $5,500.00, Nutley PD $5,500.00, West Orange PD $5,500.00
Gloucester County: Clayton PD $2,200.00, Deptford PD $6,600.00, East Greenwich PD $2,200.00, Franklin PD $2,200.00, Glassboro PD $6,600.00, Greenwich PD $1,760.00, Harrison PD $2,200.00, Logan PD $2,200.00, Mantua PD $5,500.00, Monroe PD $3,740.00, Paulsboro PD $2,200.00, Pitman PD $2,200.00, Washington PD $6,600.00, West Deptford PD $4,400.00, Westville PD $2,200.00, Woodbury Heights PD $4,180.00, Woodbury PD $6,600.00, Woolwich PD $2,420.00
Hudson County: Bayonne PD $5,500.00, Jersey City PD $5,500.00, North Bergen Twp PD $5,500.00, West New York PD $5,500.00
Hunterdon County: Clinton PD $5,500.00, Clinton Twp PD $5,500.00, Flemington PD $6,600.00, Franklin PD $4,950.00, High Bridge PD $2,750.00, Lambertville PD $1,375.00, Lebanon PD $2,750.00, Raritan PD $1,760.00, Readington PD $2,200.00, West Amwell PD $3,300.00
Mercer County: East Windsor PD $5,500.00, Hamilton PD $5,500.00, Hightstown PD $5,500.00, Hopewell PD $5,500.00, Lawrence PD $5,500.00, West Windsor PD $5,500.00
Middlesex County: Dunellen PD $5,500.00, Edison PD $5,500.00, Middlesex PD $5,500.00, North Brunswick PD $5,500.00, Old Bridge PD $5,500.00, Piscataway PD $5,500.00, South Brunswick PD $5,500.00, Spotswood PD $5,500.00, Woodbridge PD $5,500.00
Monmouth County: Allentown PD $5,500.00, Asbury Park PD $5,500.00, Atlantic Highlands PD $5,500.00, Deal PD $5,500.00, Eatontown PD $5,500.00, Freehold Twp PD $5,500.00, Highlands PD $5,500.00, Holmdel PD $5,500.00, Keansburg PD $5,500.00, Keyport PD $5,500.00, Manalapan PD $5,500.00, Matawan PD $5,500.00, Middletown PD $5,500.00, Neptune PD $5,500.00, Red Bank PD $5,500.00, Sea Girt PD $5,500.00, Spring Lake Heights PD $5,500.00, Union Beach PD $5,500.00, West Long Branch PD $5,500.00
Morris County: Boonton Township PD $5,500.00, Chester PD $5,500.00, Florham Park PD $5,500.00, Hanover PD $5,500.00, Harding PD $5,500.00, Jefferson PD $5,500.00, Mendham PD $5,500.00, Mendham Twp PD $5,500.00, Morris County Park Police $5,500.00, Morris Plains PD $5,500.00, Morris Twp PD $5,500.00, Mount Olive PD $5,500.00, Parsippany-Troy Hills PD $5,500.00, Randolph PD $5,500.00, Rockaway PD $5,500.00, Washington Township (no grant)
Ocean County: Barnegat PD $5,500.00, Bay Head PD $5,500.00, Brick PD $5,500.00, Harvey Cedars PD $5,500.00, Jackson PD $5,500.00, Lacey PD $5,500.00, Lakehurst PD $5,500.00, Manchester PD $5,500.00, Ocean Gate PD $5,500.00, Ocean PD $5,500.00, Point Pleasant Beach PD $5,500.00, Point Pleasant Boro PD $5,500.00, Seaside Heights PD $5,500.00, Ship Bottom PD $5,500.00, Stafford PD $5,500.00
Passaic County: Bloomingdale PD $5,500.00, Clifton PD $5,500.00, Haledon PD $5,500.00, Hawthorne PD $5,500.00, Little Falls PD $5,500.00, Passaic PD $5,500.00, Woodland Park PD $5,500.00
Salem County: Pennsville PD $5,500.00
Somerset County: Bedminster PD $3,300.00, Bernards PD $4,400.00, Bernardsville PD $3,300.00, Bound Brook PD $5,500.00, Branchburg PD $6,600.00, Bridgewater PD $3,300.00, Far Hills PD $5,500.00, Franklin PD $11,000.00, Green Brook PD $4,400.00, Hillsborough PD $5,500.00, Manville PD $4,400.00, Montgomery PD $5,500.00, North Plainfield PD $2,750.00, Peapack Gladstone PD $6,600.00, Raritan PD $4,950.00, Somerset County Sheriff $4,950.00, Somerville PD $2,200.00, South Bound Brook PD $3,520.00, Warren PD $4,400.00, Watchung PD $3,520.00
Sussex County: Hamburg PD $5,500.00, Sparta PD $5,500.00, Verona PD $5,500.00
Union County: Berkeley Heights PD $5,500.00, Cranford PD $5,500.00, Elizabeth PD $5,500.00, Hillside PD $5,500.00, Linden PD $5,500.00, Union PD $5,500.00
Warren County: Mansfield PD $5,500.00
Grant list courtesy of Patch.com.
If you have received a distracted-driving or texting-while-driving summons, the penalties can escalate quickly for repeat offenses.