Police Officers Pose as Shrubs to Target Distracted Driving in Dunellen, N.J.

On a recent Wednesday, officers from the Dunellen Police Department stationed themselves along North Washington Avenue—a busy, pedestrian-heavy downtown corridor—disguised as shrubs. The stunt was designed to identify motorists using handheld devices while driving, in accordance with New Jersey’s Handheld Cell Phone Law. Over a six-hour window, the department issued 74 citations to drivers it determined were distracted by their phones.

ABC7 New York

New Jersey’s Handheld Cell Phone Law, enacted to curb texting and handheld phone use behind the wheel, makes it a primary offense to operate a handheld device while operating a motor vehicle. The law authorizes police to issue citations without requiring a crash or other traffic violation as a precondition. The Dunellen initiative reflects a broader trend among municipalities to employ creative enforcement tactics to reinforce the statute’s objectives.

ABC7 New York

The six-hour operation resulted in 74 citations, averaging more than one citation every five minutes. While the department did not release demographic details of the cited drivers, the concentration of citations underscores the prevalence of handheld phone use in a high-traffic, mixed-use area. The operation also generated visual media that the department circulated to illustrate the prevalence of distracted driving.

ABC7 New York

Following the operation, the Dunellen Police Department reminded motorists to keep their eyes on the road and to use hands-free options or refrain from phone use altogether. The department emphasized that the shrub-disguise tactic was intended as a deterrent, aiming to reduce risky behavior before it leads to accidents. No injuries or crashes were reported during the enforcement period.

ABC7 New York