Petition to Bring Back Stronger Traffic Enforcement and Automated Safety Cameras in New Jersey
To the Governor of New Jersey, the New Jersey Legislature, the New Jersey Department of Transportation, and the New Jersey State Police:

We, the undersigned, urge the State of New Jersey to take stronger action against dangerous driving behaviors that are putting innocent drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and families at risk every day.

New Jersey has a serious traffic safety problem. Too many drivers are running red lights, ignoring stop signs, speeding excessively, weaving in and out of traffic, cutting off other vehicles, and tailgating others simply because they are in a hurry. These actions are not minor inconveniences. They are dangerous, reckless, and in many cases, life-threatening.

New Jersey’s red-light camera pilot program ended on December 16, 2014, after the five-year pilot program expired. Opponents argued that red-light cameras caused accidents and were used mainly as a money grab. However, the problem today is clear: drivers continue to run red lights and stop signs, and too many people are being injured or killed because some drivers refuse to follow basic traffic laws.

In addition to red-light violations, excessive speeding has become a major problem throughout the state. On highways where the speed limit may be 55 or 65 miles per hour, many drivers treat those limits as suggestions and routinely travel 80, 85, or even faster. This often comes with aggressive lane changes, weaving through traffic, cutting people off, and tailgating vehicles that are already traveling at a safe and legal speed.

Tailgating is also a serious safety issue. No driver has the right to follow another vehicle dangerously close simply because they are impatient or in a rush. It is intimidating, unsafe, and against the law.

We are asking New Jersey officials to take the following actions:

• Reconsider automated red-light enforcement at dangerous intersections with proper safeguards, transparency, and safety-focused oversight.

• Consider automated speed enforcement in high-risk areas, highway danger zones, school zones, construction zones, and locations with repeated serious crashes.

• Increase rolling patrols by State Police and local law enforcement, especially on highways and major roads where aggressive driving is common.

• Focus enforcement on dangerous driving behaviors, including excessive speeding, red-light running, stop-sign violations, reckless lane changes, and tailgating.

• Ensure that any automated enforcement program is designed for safety first, not revenue. This should include public reporting, clear signage, fair appeal rights, and regular review of crash data.

• Use revenue from any automated enforcement program only for traffic safety improvements, road design improvements, pedestrian safety, enforcement resources, and public education.

Drivers should not be able to break the law simply because there is no officer nearby. Apps such as Waze and Google Maps often alert drivers when police are ahead, allowing reckless drivers to slow down temporarily and then return to dangerous behavior once they pass the officer. Rolling patrols and carefully regulated automated enforcement can help close that gap.

This petition is not about punishing safe drivers. It is about protecting innocent people from drivers who ignore red lights, speed excessively, tailgate, and treat public roads as if the rules do not apply to them.

Too many lives are being changed forever because of preventable crashes. New Jersey needs stronger enforcement, smarter tools, and a renewed commitment to roadway safety.

We respectfully urge the State of New Jersey to act now.