Officer in shrub costume pulls over 70 distracted drivers on New Jersey highway
A Dunellen police officer dressed as a bush to catch motorists using phones, issuing 74 citations during a six-hour sting.
In an effort to curb phone use behind the wheel, the Dunellen Police Department deployed an officer disguised as a shrub on a heavily traveled thoroughfare in Middlesex County, New Jersey. The six-hour enforcement sweep resulted in 74 traffic citations for drivers caught using handheld devices, a violation that carries a $200 to $400 fine for a first offense. The officer, equipped with binoculars, monitored traffic while blending into the foliage.
Police officials said the operation was designed to both enforce the state’s handheld-cellphone law and raise public awareness. Images released showed the officer in a scraggly costume, underscoring the department’s creative approach to road safety. Authorities urged motorists to delay texts and notifications until they are safely parked.
Why it matters
It highlights innovative police tactics to enforce distracted-driving laws and promote road safety.
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