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A N.J. cop disguised himself as a shrub — and helped catch 74 distracted drivers in one day
nj.com ^ | July 29, 2026 | Rebecca Heath

Posted on 08/01/2026 6:31:38 AM PDT by lowbridge

A Middlesex County police department used an officer disguised as a shrub to crack down on distracted driving Wednesday, issuing 74 citations.

The Dunellen Police Department conducted a distracted driving enforcement operation on the 100 block of North Washington Avenue, an area with heavy vehicle and pedestrian traffic, according to a Facebook post.

The goal was to enforce New Jersey’s handheld cellphone law and increase safety in the community.

Police issued the 74 citations during a six-hour span.

“Our ‘shrub’ was busy,” the department said in the post.

(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: newjersey
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To: C210N; 6ppc

IT.


21 posted on 08/01/2026 7:18:47 AM PDT by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s²)
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To: logi_cal869

I remember one guy making a left turn at a busy intersection with his right hand holding his phone up to his ear. He even took the time to look back at the ass of a shapely woman crossing the street.


22 posted on 08/01/2026 7:21:06 AM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
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To: dljordan
I see persons driving down the road with both hands on the phone in front of their faces. I’m behind people at stoplights that can’t seem to physically let go of the phone and ignore the light when it turns. I just don’t understand the attraction.

I am retired now, but what blew me away going to work at 7:00 am is who are all these drivers talking to or texting at that time of the morning?

23 posted on 08/01/2026 7:22:48 AM PDT by EVO X ( )
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To: logi_cal869

Years ago I saw a woman doing a crossword puzzle on her steering wheel while waiting at a light.


24 posted on 08/01/2026 7:28:22 AM PDT by Fresh Wind
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To: lowbridge

Well done! Idiots on cell phones - esp. texting or browsing - are annoying and dangerous. See it all the time. Speaker option probably not so bad. Just like talking to someone in the car.

Glad they’re cracking down.


25 posted on 08/01/2026 7:31:36 AM PDT by piytar (NEVER FORGET Ashli Babbitt, Rosanne Boyland, Corey Comperatore, Iryna Zarutska LL, and Charlie Kirk!)
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To: lowbridge

They’ll make a movie or Netflix series about him soon.

Incredible how many drivers are on their phones while driving, I see it all day, every day - and our freeways in So Cal are already Mad Max chaos.


26 posted on 08/01/2026 7:40:44 AM PDT by Bon of Babble (You Say You Want a Revolution?)
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To: lowbridge

Ni


27 posted on 08/01/2026 7:44:40 AM PDT by NonValueAdded (First, I was a clinger, then deplorable, now I'm garbage. Feel the love? )
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To: dljordan

“I see persons driving down the road with both hands on the phone in front of their faces.”

Before cell phones I saw someone driving with an open newspaper across the wheel reading it.

In today’s world it has gotten worse. Rolling through stop signs? Now many don’t even slow down.


28 posted on 08/01/2026 8:15:01 AM PDT by plain talk
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To: lowbridge

In the words of Miss Mona Lisa Vito; “Oh yeah, you blend.”


29 posted on 08/01/2026 8:19:34 AM PDT by IYAS9YAS (There are two kinds of people: Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.)
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To: Bon of Babble

> They’ll make a movie or Netflix series about him soon.<

Except the officer will be disguised as a black oak.

EC


30 posted on 08/01/2026 8:26:24 AM PDT by Ex-Con777 ("Journalism is about covering important stories-with a pillow, until they stop moving." ~ David Burg)
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To: plain talk

“Before cell phones I saw someone driving with an open newspaper across the wheel reading it.”

I’ve seen that and reading books too.


31 posted on 08/01/2026 8:31:14 AM PDT by dljordan
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To: FlingWingFlyer

It’s Ted Nugent and he somehow lost his way to the Explorers Club!


32 posted on 08/01/2026 8:33:48 AM PDT by equaviator (Nobody's perfect. That's why they put pencils on erasers!)
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To: lowbridge

The city needs to spend some money on code enforcement. Around here the city would send a citation for those low tree branches hanging over the street.


33 posted on 08/01/2026 8:35:25 AM PDT by PAR35
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To: lowbridge

I think we found the root of the problem….. I know, but I’ll be here all weekend!


34 posted on 08/01/2026 8:41:47 AM PDT by Lockbox (politicians, they all seemed like game show host to me.... Sting)
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To: xp38

LOL, I was just trying to remember the agent’s number.


35 posted on 08/01/2026 8:48:02 AM PDT by GMThrust
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To: IYAS9YAS

Did you say two yutes?


36 posted on 08/01/2026 8:49:06 AM PDT by shelterguy
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To: lowbridge

37 posted on 08/01/2026 8:49:34 AM PDT by DannyTN
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To: lowbridge

38 posted on 08/01/2026 8:50:23 AM PDT by DannyTN
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To: lowbridge

Another reason to hate the Praetorian Guard. . .


39 posted on 08/01/2026 8:56:48 AM PDT by Rocco DiPippo (Either the Deep State destroys America or we destroy the Deep State. -Donald Trump)
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To: lowbridge

Wait until the word entrapment is brought up.

wy69


40 posted on 08/01/2026 9:17:14 AM PDT by whitney69
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