Course Description:
This program was developed in collaboration with the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety (DHTS) and is hosted by the Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT). This comprehensive full-day course is designed to advance traffic safety initiatives through enforcement and professional engagement with the motoring public

The curriculum focuses on the role of traffic enforcement officers in New Jersey, emphasizing their part in reducing severe injuries and fatalities on the state’s roadways. Officers will gain a deeper understanding of their responsibilities in roadway safety and the intricacies of conducting traffic stops, with a particular focus on interactions with motorists and best practices for traffic stops.

The course content is structured to examine the nuanced components of a traffic stop, beginning with a detailed analysis of officer acuity relative to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Code. Participants will learn to accurately identify violations, select appropriate and safe locations for conducting stops, and effectively communicate necessary information to dispatch while adhering to departmental protocols and the law.

Key aspects of the traffic stop process include safe vehicle approach tactics, the importance of professional engagement with motorists to address infractions, and the legal rights of both officers and motorists during these encounters. The curriculum will also cover strategies for managing interactions with motorists who wish to lodge complaints or contest issued summonses, highlighting the importance of thorough documentation of each encounter and the preparation for credible courtroom testimony.

The instruction will be delivered by experienced Traffic Safety Officers and a municipal prosecutor from a multi-jurisdictional background, underscoring the paramount importance of professional and fair practices within law enforcement traffic safety functions.

Learning Objectives:

1. Clarify the law enforcement role in traffic safety
2. Enhance skills for effective interaction with motorists
3. Apply the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Code comprehensively
4. Use engagement techniques while enforcing traffic laws
5. Improve the quality and credibility of courtroom testimony

Intended Audience:
Law enforcement

Pre-Requisites:
Full-time NJ Law Enforcement Officer

Credits:
None

Instructors:
Chief Frank Pumphrey, Cedar Grove PD; Elsbeth Crusius, Chief Municipal Prosecutor, Bergen & Passaic: Eric Heitmann, EHA Transportation Safety Consultants; Ptl. Matthew Menosky, Holmdel PD; Ptl Michael O’Hara, Manchester PD; Pamela O’Donnell, Catch You Later Foundation

Sponsor: 
New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety