New Jersey Police Officer in Shrub Disguise Issues 74 Distracted‑Driving Citations
A Dunellen Police Department officer in New Jersey dressed head‑to‑toe as a shrub and conducted a six‑hour distracted‑driving enforcement on North Washington Avenue. The operation, aimed at enforcing the state’s handheld cellphone law, resulted in 74 citations issued to drivers using handheld devices while driving. Fines for first‑time offenders range from $200 to $400.
The department posted photos and a statement on Facebook, noting the officer’s camouflage with binoculars and urging motorists to keep their eyes on the road. The stunt attracted widespread attention on social media, drawing both amusement and criticism, with some questioning the legality and others praising the creative safety measure.
White House legal adviser Shlomo Schorr highlighted the tactic’s effectiveness, and local officials indicated that similar enforcement actions may continue in the area.
Entities: Dunellen Police Department · New Jersey · North Washington Avenue · Shlomo Schorr · Shrub disguise · handheld cellphone law
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The officer used binoculars while concealed in the shrub costume to monitor drivers. (Images showed the officer equipped with binoculars.)
- [● 3 SOURCES] 74 citations were issued to drivers for violating New Jersey's handheld cellphone law. (The department reported 74 citations for distracted‑driving under the handheld‑cellphone law.)
- [● 3 SOURCES] A Dunellen Police Department officer disguised as a shrub during a traffic enforcement operation. (Dunellen Police Department used a shrub costume in a distracted‑driving enforcement detail.)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The operation lasted six hours on North Washington Avenue in Dunellen. (The six‑hour operation took place along the 100 block of North Washington Avenue.)
- [● 2 SOURCES] First‑time offenders under the handheld cellphone law face fines of $200 to $400. (State law sets fines of $200‑$400 for first offenses.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Public reaction on social media ranged from amusement to criticism of the tactic. (Comments online expressed both humor and concerns about legality.)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The police aimed to promote road safety and remind drivers not to use phones while driving. (The department’s statement emphasized the safety message.)