A New Jersey police officer dressed up as a bush stood on the side of the road to catch over 70 distracted drivers on their phones. Seriously. This is a thing that actually happened.
In an attempt to enforce the state’s handheld cell phone law, police officers in Dunellen, New Jersey, stationed themselves in the 100 block of North Washington Avenue, a busy, vehicle- and pedestrian-heavy area located downtown. Within a six-hour period, the officers in this area issued 74 citations to drivers whom they said were distracted by their smartphones.
“Did you spot our ‘shrub’ today? If you had your head buried in your phone, probably not!” the Dunellen Borough Police Department wrote in a Facebook post along with photos of the operation in action.
In one image, a Dunellen Borough Police officer wearing a bush costume that made him look like a green Bigfoot uses binoculars to keep an eye out for any distracted drivers.
The police officer captured distracted drivers’ license plate numbers using the pair of binoculars and radioed ahead to officers who made the traffic stops.
The Dunellen Borough Police Department added that they specifically chose the area in Middlesex County to “enforce New Jersey’s Handheld Cell Phone Law and protect our community.”
Driving while using a handheld smartphone or other device is illegal, and a first offense carries fines of $200 to $400.
“The results? Our ‘shrub’ was busy,” the department added. “Let this be a reminder: That text or notification can wait. Keep your eyes on the road, not your screen!”