Minutes of November 15, 1999

Teresa M. Thomas, SJTPO Alliance Liaison opened the meeting at 10:00 a.m.

Ms. Thomas introduced herself and had everyone present introduce themselves.

Ms. Thomas talked about the short Board Meeting held just prior to the meeting. The Board members went over By-Law items and the duties of the Board. A draft of the By-Laws should be available at the next meeting.

Ms. Thomas explained that the SJTPO received a 1999 AMPO Special Projects Award for its work with the Traffic Safety Alliance. The Special Project Award is for an element in an MPO's work program or some special circumstance the MPO reacts to. The SJTPO was acknowledged for integrating traffic safety into its programs.

Old Business

Update on Aggressive Driving Campaign

SFC Mario Terruso, Buena Vista State Police, reported on the Aggressive Driver Campaign. The goal of the Campaign is to reduce the number of motor vehicle accidents, and resulting injuries and fatalities, caused by the Aggressive Driver.

The December 28, 1999 detail included all four counties of the Alliance. Total units equalled 68, with 255 hours, 333 summons, 315 other contacts and 16 arrests.

Participants in Atlantic County included: Absecon, Buena Boro, Egg Harbor Twp, Galloway Twp, Hamilton Twp, Linwood, Margate, Northfiled, Pleasantville, and Somers Point Police Departments and Buena Vista State Police and Tactical Patrol Unit #1.

Cape May County participants included: Lower Twp, Ocean City, West Cape May and WIldwood Police Departments.

Cumberland County included: Bridgeton, Millville, and Vineland Police Departments, Bridgeton and Port Norris State Police and Tactical Patrol Units #2 and #3.

Salem County participants included: Pennsville Boro and Woodstown State Police.

In total, the 1999 Aggressive Driver Campaign logged, 7 details, consisting of: 193 units, 788 man hours, 1,119 summons, 669 other contacts and 36 arrests. Of the 36 arrests, 24 were criminal arrests (drugs, weapons and warrants) and 12 were DWI arrests.

The next projected initiative/coalition is Wednesday, November 24, between 4:00-8:00 pm and will include all Traffic Safety Alliance Departments. The anticipated plan is to have each department identify road(s) that they feel have been a problem with Aggressive Driving, decide how much manpower they want to devote to the program and then coordinate schedules. Sgt Terruso read the list of those signed up and urged those in attendance not on the list to get the paperwork in.

Update on the Fatal Vision Programs
Sharane Orendas, NJDHTS

State Police has 72 municipalities that have Community Police Depts that have or will get the fatal vision starter kits.

Carney's Point has agreed to take the project for Salem County so all the Police Departments with eductional units in Salem County will get their starter kits for their Fatal Unit.

Cumberland County needs to get their paperwork in. The City of Vineland is the lead municipality for Vineland, Bridgeton and Millville.

Atlantic County is covered through Joan Sooy. If their are municipalities in Atlantic County that have educational units but do not have a starter kit call Joan Sooy (609) 645-5979.

Educational Unit means that the police department or some community program goes into the schools teaching alcohol and drugs to kids and adults. Those departments are eligible to receive a starter kit (free through their County from the State). The kit includes: four sets of goggles (2 day, 2 night), a video, student handouts and adult handouts.

New Business

Joan Sooy, Director of the Atlantic County Office of Highway Safety

Operation Thanksgiving- being held in Atlantic County and will consist of informational traffic stops with handouts and safety tips, each participating departments receive one dozen gruff dogs to give out and all activities will be coordinated with the Aggressive Driving Campaign (see above)

Spring Activity - trying to coordinate an activity all four counties can participate in.

After some discussion, it was decided that maybe we could do something in April or May for bicycle safety. Bicycle safety month is May. Each community could do their own event with the same message and promotional items.

Hamilton Twp representatives talked about "project ice cream" where in coordination with local ice cream parlors the officers would give out coupons for a free ice cream cone to kid they see on their bikes with their helmets on.

Vineland representatives talked about a bike roadeo they had with an obstacle course and prizes.

Lower Alloway Creek reprentatives talked about their drive to give away helmet reflector stickers and their program to give used bicycle helmets to those less fortunate.

Discussion on the helmet reflector stickers glue and potential for causing helmet deterioration. To be investigated before purchased. Verification and written confirmation from the vendor about the compatability of the glue for which manufactured helmets.

It was suggested that we include motorcycle safety, which is also in May.

Postponed - John Wolfram, Mobile Intensive Car Unit presentation on Crash Acuity

Legislation

Ms. Thomas went over the process the Board recommended to the general membership. The Boards goal is to be more visible with regard to pending legislation. The Board will review pending legislation and bring it to the general membership with a recommendation. It will be the general membership that decides to support or not support it. Ms. Thomas will then forward the appropriate letter to the appropriate party and do a press release.

There were not objections from the general membership.

Open floor for comments

Barry Wythe, Atlantic County Investigator talked again about the blood draw issue with Cooper Hospital. (see Sept 99 minutes) It was decided that the Alliance, in coordination with Barry Wythe, will send out a survey form to police departments in the four counties to determine what the issues and numbers involved. The Alliance will then make a recommendation to the State.

The possibility of having a speaker from Cooper Hospital address the Alliance on the issue.

Location and Date of next meeting

Tuesday February 15th, Salem City Fraternal Order of Police

Minutes of June 22, 1999

Patrolman John Kline, Bueno Boro Police Department welcomed everyone to the meeting at 10:30 am.

Col Peter O'Hagan, New Jersey Division of Highway Safety (NJDHS), thanked everyone for attending and spoke of the Alliance as a model for other areas of New Jersey.

Old Business

Update on Aggressive Driving Campaign

Sgt. First Class Mario Terruso, SP, reported on the Aggressive Driver Campaign. The goal of the Campaign is to reduce the number of motor vehicle accidents, and resulting injuries and fatalities, caused by the Aggressive Driver.

Sgt. Terruso spoke about the two details that took place since the last meeting and noted that the object was to get the counties working together.

The first detail on May 20 included Cumberland and Salem Counties on US #40. Specifically, the Elmer, Woodstown, Carney's Point and Pennsville Police Departments and Bridgeton and Woodstown State Police. In total, 12 units worked 48 hours, gave out 71 summons and had 28 other contacts.

The second detail on May 28 included Cape May and Atlantic Counties on US #9. Specifically, Lower, Middle and Galloway Townships Police Departments, Somers Point, Linwood, Northfield, Pleasantville and Absecon Cities Police Departments and Port Republic City State Police. In total, that detail took place over 100 hours with 26 units and produced 124 summons and 82 other contacts.

He went on to say that two additional details have been added and actually go out of the Alliance's region. SH #55 on Friday July 2 will include Cumberland, Salem and Gloucester Counties and I 295 on Friday September 3 will include Salem, Gloucester and Camden Counties.

He also stated there may be a third added the Wednesday before Thanksgiving that will include all four counties of the Alliance's region. He will update us at the September meeting.

Brochures and Other Purchases Update
Joan Sooy, Director of Atlantic County Office of Highway Safety, said the "SEND HELP" signs were in and needed to be picked up at her office. Each county will get 11 cases.

Update on Traffic Safety Programs and Fatal Vision
Sharane Orendas, Supervisor of Highway Safety Programs, NJDHS, noted that there will be $400,000 available to the Alliance in the FY2000 budget. She also noted there was still some money available in this budget but that the materials would have to be ordered by August 1.

She informed the Alliance that Salem County's proposal for a Fatal Unit was received and is moving forward and she is currently in talks with Cape May County.

Update on Board Appointments
Tim Chelius, Executive Director SJTPO, confirmed that the Board will consist of twelve members comprised of three representatives from each county. He recognized Joan Sooy for Atlantic County, Jim Plousis for Cape May County and Debbie Whitaker for Salem County as the State's appointments and Barry Wythe and Dr. Barbara Warner as Atlantic County Executive Dick Squires' county appointments. Not present was Mike Barruzza who was appointed by the State to represent Cumberland County.

He also noted that the speed trailers were en route from Kentucky. He said the county engineers will be responsible for maintaining the units and logging their activity but that they should be available for Police Departments upon request.

New Business

Report by Al Tindall, Program Specialist, NJDHS
Traffic Records - The State has fallen behind in processing police traffic crash reports. The latest figures available are from 1995. The private vendor selected to enter crash data for the state could not complete the task. Another system is in developmental stages utilizing Department of Treasury employees to enter data.

Automation of crash data is the preferred method of capturing, storing, analyzing and uploading information to the State. A free Window95 program is available through Al Tindall (609) 633-9028 or Sgt. Steve Saymon of Brooklawn Police has developed an excellent crash data program and other companies are also writing complete police reporting packages which are for sale.

Traffic Engineering - Several programs are available to enhance traffic engineering capabilities for counties and municipalities.

1. Traffic Engineer - for counties and large municipalities without a traffic engineer. The program provides 100% of the first year salary, 75% of the second and 50% of the third year if no traffic engineer is currently employed.

2. Summer Interns - counties and municipalities are encouraged to hire a second or third year college engineering student to assist with work assignments in the traffic engineering field. $10.50 to $11.00 per hour is available during the summer or if a student is taking a semester off from studying. One very worthwhile project for a summer intern is to inventory intersections for sight distance, condition of signage, pavement markings, phase timing, parking, etc.

3. Pedestrian Safety - New Jersey's pedestrian fatality rate (23%) is roughly twice the national average of 14%. To combat this problem, certain pedestrian enhancements are available to locations with a pedestrian injury or fatality problem.

a. thermo-plastic applicators for pedestrian crosswalks and stop bars,

b. pedestrian strong yellow-green signs (especially in school zones)

c. footprints for crosswalks which children often use

d. **note* - mats are no longer available through 3M

Training courses in flagging, work zone safety, work zone enforcement and other topics will likely be available. The state hopes to work out differences with Rutgers so these courses can be again offered.

Engineering Software is a possibility as well as video logging roadways and traffic counting equipment.

A request was made for a course for checking commercial vehicles. This would not be possible under the programs offered today.

Discussion regarding parking requirements. The State law is 25 feet from an intersection of an oversized vehicle but parking in the shore areas is at such a premium that it is hard to enforce yet it is a hazard to try and pull out when an SUV is parked at the corner.

Occupant Protection Programs, by Ed O'Connor, Program Specialist, NJDHS

The long term goal of this division is two-fold. First, we need a primary belt law. Although NJDHS cannot lobby for legislation, we can educate the public and demonstrate the importance of occupant protection devices so that legislators and constituents can make an informed decision. Second, the need for localized and semi-permanent locations where parents can get child seat checked for proper installation.

The Federal and State governments are pushing for check points for occupant safety. Automotive manufacturers are beginning to see the marketing value of such programs and are becoming more involved on a national scale, but completion of this task will require years of training and administration.

More than 80% of child safety seats are installed improperly. That figure translates to 4 out of every 5. Many police officers through the 1990's were trained in a curriculum called Occupant Protection Usage and Enforcement (OPUE) which was developed to give officers the ability to educate in their communities about the benefits of safety belt use and to rally them to enforce existing belt laws.

The OPUE program was replaced by the Traffic Occupant Protection Strategies (TOPS) which is not currently active. Instead, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) developed the OP Incentive Program, Section 157 for FY 2000. This new innovative protection grant, not yet approved, would make one million a year for three years available to train people in occupant protection. If approved, all OPUE trained officers will be contacted to determine what additional information and materials (i.e. teaching aids) are necessary and then invited to participate.

In addition to teaching the proper techniques, training needs to teach people how to organize, schedule and set up an event and should include mock clinics to get people comfortable with public check point procedures. And, in addition to check points, trained people should be out in the community where people can go and get their equipment checked and they should go to programs where parents are. i.e. Lamaze classes.

Currently available is the training and certification program for child passenger safety entitled the NSTSA Standardized Child Passenger Safety Training Program. This training enables police, fire and rescue, and medical professionals to become certified as child passenger safety (CPS) technicians. The purpose is to control and update the information given to the public and to reduce practitioner liability through certification. There will be a minimum of four training classes in FY 2000 and all Safety Alliance members are invited.

Specific dates and locations will be available at the September meeting but North Jersey training is scheduled for October and South Jersey in November in Lower Camden. Additional training in the Spring of 2000 should also be available.

For a listing of events look on the NJDHS website or call Ed at (609) 633-9048.

Question - Do you have to be in law enforcement to get training?

Answer - No.

Question - What about liability?

Answer - None. Training teaches you how to teach the parent but the parent installs the equipment.

Legislation

The Alliance supported the Primary Seat Belt Law and authorized a letter to Senator Donald DeFrancesco from the Alliance. Col O'Hagan suggested that it be the first initiative of the Alliance since he has a promise from Senator DeFrancesco that he will take it for a vote with Alliance support.

The .08 BAC discussion was put on hold till the September meeting.

Comments from members

Marlene Atkins, NJDHS, requested that the Alliance talk about car seats on school buses and requested that anyone interested in this topic call Kathy Scaturro (908)-284-7154.

Al Tindall, NJDHS, noted that there are mobile inspection units available to investigate crashes. Call Mark Marino (609) 633-7430.

%Materials that were available at the meeting can be obtained from Omni Glow Corp.

Call Will Flannery at (732)-237-2372.

The next meeting of the South Jersey Traffic Safety Alliance is scheduled for Tuesday, September 14, 1999 at Martin's Bob White Family Restaurant, Landisville, NJ. The meeting is scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. Coffee will be served at 10:00 a.m.

Minutes of April 20, 1999

Joan Sooy, Director of Atlantic County Office of Highway Safety, welcomed everyone to the meeting, at 10:20 am.

The Alliance thanked Joan Sooy, Director of Atlantic County CTSP and Mayor Frank Perry, Northfield, for their part in making the April 29th meeting a success by hosting it at Denny's in Northfield.

Sharane Orendas New Jersey Division of Highway Safety (NJDHS) spoke about things that are happening in her Department.

a) The year 2000 budget is under development. A preliminary meeting about direction and priorities has taken place. The budget is due by August, thus, if there is something someone thinks should be implemented in your community or a program someone wants to expand but cannot because they lack the funds, please get in touch with her; she will work to get your proposal to fit one of the categories of education, enforcement and/or engineering.

b) There is a possibility a Community Traffic Safety Program will be created for Salem County. The NJDHS presented three options, to the county, from which the county could develop a proposal to put a CTSP in place. Sharane Orendas believes Salem County will have a traffic safety program in place by October 1. She urged those involved to talk to County Engineer Chris Rehmann in reference to what they see as their needs. She went on to say that they hoped to do the same thing in Cape May County, on a part time basis, because Cape May's traffic problems generally occur between April and October. Then they can move on to Cumberland County, so that by the year 2000 South Jersey will have comprehensive programs ongoing in each of the Counties, like there already is in Atlantic County.

c) Salem County Prosecutor's Office is looking into creating a fatal unit for the County.

Board Structure

Tim Chelius, Executive Director SJTPO, said results of the survey indicated that the preference is to have a twelve member board comprised of three representative from each county. The next decision will be about the types of committees the members feel are needed. Within the next two months a survey will be sent out and the results will be made available at the next meeting. He also noted that letterhead and other official documents will be created.

Tim then acknowledged Teresa Thomas as a new addition to SJTPO and said she will be helping out the Alliance with administrative work, mailings and public relations.

Sharane noted that Teresa will be designing a package of standard Press Releases so that when a speed monitor is requested you can just change dates and places and she can fax it out to the newspapers. Sharane promoted this as good public relations, showing your community you are concerned about speeding.

Old Business:

Tim then spoke about the purchase of the speed trailers. They should be arriving within the next three weeks and four more are approved within in the FY 2000 budget. By August each county should have two so if someone feels hey need one they should contact their county engineer.

Tim announced the award for advanced engineering and environmental studies for sidewalks with federal construction funds, to the RBA Group of Morristown. The contract has been approved and work should start within the next two weeks and be completed in nine months. Locations include Northfield in Atlantic County, Route 130 in Salem County and two in Cumberland County.

He then thanked Dave Powell and the Federal Highway Administration hereafter (FHA) because they are different projects for a Metropolitan Planning Organization hereafter (MPO), but FHA realized the importance of those purchases for the programs.

New Business

Sharane announced that Washington will be sending the Safe & Sober Program Packets to the point people of the four counties. She also mentioned that her department was going to reprint their brochures and municipalities could contact her for additional supplies. At present all point people have been contacted for the quantity of brochures needed for their county.

Aggressive Driving Program Update

Sgt. First Class Mario Terruso, SP, reported on the Aggressive Driver Campaign. The goal of the Campaign is to reduce the number of motor vehicle accidents, and resulting injuries and fatalities, caused by the Aggressive Driver.

There are three pilot programs operated as a multi-jurisdictional detail. The first was February 18, 1999, 8am -3pm in Cumberland County, SH#47, Maurice River Township, Millville City, Vineland City. Even though the weather was not favorable, there were 15 units, 105 man hours, 80 summons and 1 criminal arrest. The other two pilot programs are scheduled for April 29 in Cumberland County and May 20 in Salem County. He noted that the State Police are also looking at at least two summer programs on a multi-jurisdictional approach.

Alliance Summer Programs

Joan Sooy, Director of Atlantic County Office of Highway Safety, spoke about another comprehensive approach. She has about $10,000. of Alliance dollars left in her grant, which must be spent by August 31. She then reported on Atlantic County programs that she suggested the Alliance might do on a regional basis.

a) "SEND HELP" - a cardboard window display, designed in concert with the Atlantic County Commission on Women, to be put in a car window for breakdowns. On the back it has places for phone numbers and information on seasonal upkeep.

b) "EMERGENCY IDENTIFICATION STICKER" - a three part sticker. The main part is filled out with personal information and attached inconspicuously, the other two parts are seals placed visibly so that a responder knows that there is information about that child in that location.

c) PENS, KEY CHAINS and PAPER

Sharane offered to increase the Alliances project by an additional $10,000. so that all of these programs could be ready for summer/early fall.

It was decided what the Alliance wanted and authorized Joan to order send help, emergency identification stickers, letterhead, envelopes, pens, key chains and paper for brochures for all four counties of the Alliance.

Marlene Atkins spoke about "mock crashes" and the need to educate children that they need to buckle up while on the school bus. There seem to be more incidents with buses, so procedures on how to do a mock crash with a school bus will be forthcoming.

Sharane informed the Alliance about the kickoff of 101 Safe Days of Summer, being held on May 26 at the Trenton Thunder Ball Field in Trenton. The theme is aggressive driving and seat belts. Speakers will be Tony Peretti, President of the NJ Police Traffic Officers Association and Chief Muller from Sea Isle City, President of the Chiefs Association. The Trenton Thunder Coach/Manager and some of the players will talk about being aggressive on the field of play but not on the road.

Comments from members

Sgt Ed Newman, Northfield P.D., questioned the availability of a refresher course for the Occupant Protection Usage and Enforcement Program that was coordinated with Larry Honey about ten years ago. He believes there is a need for occupant protection updates with regard to air bags, child safety seats and seat. He also stated that he believed that education was lacking with regard to the use of these speed monitors and traffic engineering.

Sharane said that Al Tindal, Program Specialist, NJDHS, will attend the June meeting to speak about engineering and traffic records. She also said that she would invite Ed O'Connor, Program Specialist, NJDHS, to speak on seat belt technician training and instructor training.

Taxi cabs and car seats

Atlantic City and Vineland have implemented a taxi cab ordinance to require kid seats. If you have taxi cabs in your community, see Vineland Police or Joan Sooy for a model.

The next meeting of the South Jersey Traffic Safety Alliance is scheduled for June 22, 1999 at Martin's Bob White Family Restaurant, Landisville, NJ. The meeting is scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. Coffee will be served at 10:00 a.m.