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A curse of the Internet is the gullibility of users — some of whom believe a recurring email that says troopers are writing tickets for going 5 miles above the posted limit, that they’re “bringing in all of their part-timers on full time,” and (get this) that the agency has bought 30 brand-new Crown Victoria cruisers for the task.
Growing sillier wth each line, the viral email says troopers are staking out the entire NJ Turnpike (both north and south), the entire Garden State Parkway (same), as well as Routes 80, 287, 195, 295, 130 and 280 (yes, both sides).
No need to consider the logistics of such an arrangement. Better to focus on a supposed mandate that each trooper write a ticket every 10 to 20 minutes. Imagine the budget-breaking deluge of “writer’s cramp” worker’s comp claims. Or a court system overrun by accused scofflaws demanding justice. But there’s more….
“The price of a violation to show your driver’s license, registration or insurance card at the time you are stopped increased from $44.00 to $173.00. (Keep these documents in your car),” the warning says. “And the fine for not having all three documents is $519.00!”
Not content to leave funny enough alone, the writer adds: “The fine for hand-held cell phone use while driving will be going up to $180.00.”
No need to even seek comment from New Jersey’s finest. But what the heck?
“Not true,” said State Police Capt. Gerald Lewis. “This has been urban legend for about two years now.”
He didn’t protest too vehemently about the absurdity of the warning, including the blarney about part-time troopers (no such thing) and 30 new Crown Vics — like New Jersey has $750,000 lying around (based on a bargain-basement MSRP of 25 grand per vehicle, though it’s more likely closer to $30,000 each).
Why should he?
“It has been a nice deterrent in the past,” Lewis said.
Or as another trooper cracked: “We’ll take any help we can get.”
To paraphrase the viral mail: Please forward THIS story to people in N.J. or any one using the N.J. highways, and let them know that it’s bull. At the same time, urge them to drive responsibly — cause when the troopers can’t saturate the roads, they carefully pick their spots.
PHOTOS by CLIFFVIEWPILOT.COM. No use without permission.
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