The following statement was given to YWN by Lakewood Police Chief Rob Lawson:
In regard to several inquiries from the media about a police ticket “blitz”, please be advised that there has been no ticket “blitz” ordered by myself or any of the other Commanders of the Police Department. Inquiries were made about enforcement of motor vehicle violations, particularly on Clifton Avenue between 2nd and 6th Street. I have reviewed the (38) summonses that were issued in this area over the last two days, and about ½ of them (18) are for excessive speed. The average documented speed for vehicles receiving summonses was almost 14 mph over the speed limit and the majority of them were in a school zone. This is a particularly hazardous violation which endangers pedestrians and other vehicles, especially in our heavily trafficked downtown area.
In addition to speeding, summonses were issued for the following violations: (4) Unregistered Vehicles, (2) Uninsured Vehicles, (3) Careless Driving, (1) Unlicensed Driver, (2) Red Lights, (6) Seat Belts, (1) Failure to Inspect, and (1) Improper Turn on Red. As you can see, most of the summonses that were issued were for hazardous violations and the officers were doing their jobs in protecting our community by issuing the summonses. In many cases, multiple summonses could have been issued for additional violations such as cell phone use while driving and failure to stop for pedestrians at intersections.
As of May 1st , we will be issuing summonses for failing to stop for pedestrians at intersections, so please be aware of this new law that I have spoken about repeatedly in the press. Cell phone use while driving without a hands free device is also a serious issue in town, as you commonly see many people holding a cell phone to their ear and chatting while driving. We do have a high accident rate in Lakewood and it is attributable to all of the above stated issues.
Please slow down, do not talk on a cell phone while driving unless you are using a hands-free device, insure that your vehicle is registered, insured and inspected, always wear your seat belt and obey the traffic signs and signals – and Lakewood will be a much safer community for all of us.
Thank you.
Chief Rob Lawson.
(YWN Lakewood Desk)
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11 Responses
Dear Chief Lawson
Thank you for making Lakewood safe. On that note can you please ask your officers to use Hands Free cell phone devices if they must talk on the phone.
So If the police officers must use a phone, please let them do legaly and most important SAFELY with a hands free device. THATS WHY THE LAW WAS PASSED- FOR ALL.
Yes, #1, agreed.
Lakewood police are FOREVER on their cell phones.
I have noticed the same thing as savelkwd. A lot of officers are driving around with their cell phones at their ear. While Chief Lawson is a real big mentch and very often goes out of his way to help out the community, some of his officers are not at all living up to his standards. I’m sure many have noticed on occasion officers blatantly violating the law for no apparent reason. Though these officers may be a rotten few, there can be a monitoring system very easily implemented with regards to these officers. We all know that these patrol cars are equipped with the latest technology available such as an advanced GPS system and other features that can figure out the speed of the patrol car at any given time. If this aspect would be thoroughly investigated, Chief Lawson would be mightily surprised to find out that some of his officers are not what they seem to be. Since these kinds of complaints are usually not made by an individual for fear of backlash from that officer, I figured here would be an appropriate venue to notify the chief of an ongoing (and sometimes dangerous due to excessive high speed)problem that has plagued the Lakewood community for a number of years. I hope that either Chief Lawson reads this himself or if anyone reading this can please notify him of this comment. In conclusion, I would like to know from other readers if they have the same feeling about these couple of rotten officers, to please post their comment here and maybe once and for all something might get done about it.
#s 1 and 2 – Law enforcement officers when on official business are exempt from the hands free requirement.
All of us need to be more respectful of our local police. The Lakewood PD has an officer who is official liaison with BMG and the Roshei HaYeshiva. A few years ago I had cause professionally to meet with the Sergeant who was liaison at that time. He was both profoundly respectful of the Yeshiva community and exasperated at the number of frum knuckleheads, kollel wives included, whose reaction to being stopped for a traffic violation (such as having 4 unbelted children in the back seat of a car) was to accuse him of being an anti-semite.
The LPD is very petty and are LOOKING for every oppertunity to hit you with a summons. Take it from me being from NY.
rebmoish sprechts rubbish
#4 I guess you are very much in the know or think that you may be. First of all, who is this liaison that you are talking about. Secondly, what does this mean in English? “A few years ago I had cause professionally to meet with the Sergeant who was liaison at that time”. Where did you learn how to speak English?
Perhaps they are petty but let’s call a spade a spade. How many of US break the law by talking on cell phones even though we know we get distracted. It’s not important whether the police obey the same law or not. WE ARE DOING SOMETHING DANGEROUS. I have watched many times when emergency vehicles while eroute to an emergency were cut off by unzerer talking on a cell phones (not hands free). One just has to stand on 14th street and Laurelwood and watch the carpools speeding by at excessive speeds. Why do we give them reasons to act?
bigaskan “A few years ago I had cause professionally to meet with the Sergeant who was liaison at that time” is perfectly acceptable English. Without going into details, I am an attorney who works in law enforcement. And you, sir?
bigaskan:
As per the law, Police Fire and EMS personal are allowed to talk on the phone while they are driving. Look it up. If that makes you mad by law the only one in the state of New Jersey that can jump a red light is the mail main.
I love Lakewood! There is no other place like it! Thank heaven for Lakewood! Having said that, let’s move to talk about the traffic and street situation. There should be a ticket blitz. Danger lurks at every corner for pedestrians from drivers and for drivers from pedestrians. That is the fact. In addition, it is a laugh to hear people talk about cops on cellphones. I have seen such things like a mother with a van of kids on the cellphone stuck in the middle of the intersection, talking, having no clue where to go and having no clue that she no longer has had a green light for MINUTES. Give the cops some leeway. They are professional