Governor Chris Christie and Senator Michael Doherty hold a press conference, announcing the creation of Education Funding Task Force to help root out fraud and abuse, while at the Statehouse in Trenton, N.J. on Monday, March 5, 2012. (Governor’s Office/Tim Larsen)
Governor Chris Christie and Senator Michael Doherty hold a press conference, announcing the creation of Education Funding Task Force to help root out fraud and abuse, while at the Statehouse in Trenton, N.J. on Monday, March 5, 2012. (Governor’s Office/Tim Larsen)
Governor Chris Christie and Senator Michael Doherty hold a press conference, announcing the creation of Education Funding Task Force to help root out fraud and abuse, while at the Statehouse in Trenton, N.J. on Monday, March 5, 2012. (Governor’s Office/Tim Larsen)
Senator Mike Doherty speaking at a ceremony to mark the signing of S-2, S-3 and S-4 by Governor Chris Christie on March 22, 2010. Doherty is a primary sponsor of S-3, which requires contributions toward healthcare benefits by all public employees. (Governor Photos/Tim Larsen)
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Senator Michael Doherty (R-23) issued the following statement in response to reports that red light cameras that had previously been suspended pending the completion of timing studies have been recertified for use:
“I continue to believe that the red light camera program is misguided and will push forward with legislation to ban the use of red light cameras in New Jersey.
“The certification of the 63 red light cameras in question does nothing to address the propriety of the program as a whole.
Urges DRJTBC to Cancel Plan to Replace Safe, Free I-95 Bridge with New Tolled Bridge
The Township of Kingwood in Hunterdon County is the latest local government to join Senator Michael Doherty (R-23) in opposition to a plan to replace the safe and free I-95 Scudder Falls Bridge over the Delaware River with a new tolled bridge that would cost an estimated $330 million. Doherty, a long-time critic of wasteful spending practices at the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, has called for local officials to examine and express their opposition to the unnecessary bridge replacement plan proposed by the bi-state agency.
“The residents of Kingwood should be proud to know that their local government is standing up for them and opposing the imposition of unnecessary tolls and toll increases that would result from the Scudder Falls Bridge project,” said Doherty. “As more local governments stand up and express their disapproval, leaders in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania will be forced to scrutinize the Scudder Falls Bridge project and ask the DRJTBC to justify this seemingly indefensible plan.”
Senator Michael Doherty (R-23) said that although a decision to temporarily suspend the issuance of tickets at 63 of 85 red light cameras in New Jersey is a good start, a permanent ban on all cameras is still needed.
“We’ve heard complaints from motorists that some yellow lights aren’t timed correctly or may actually have been shortened at intersections where red light cameras are installed,” said Doherty. “This is especially concerning since the statute permitting the use of red light cameras requires speed studies at intersections prior to camera installation to properly set the yellow light cycle according to a very specific calculation. The action by the New Jersey Department of Transportation to suspend enforcement at many intersections is recognition that those required studies were never completed as required by law.”
DRJTBC Plan Would Replace Safe, Free I-95 Bridge with New $330 Million Tolled Bridge
Senator Michael Doherty (R-23) is pleased to announce that Hunterdon County has joined him in opposition to a plan to replace the safe and free I-95 Scudder Falls Bridge over the Delaware River with a new tolled bridge that would cost an estimated $330 million. Doherty has been a long-time critic of wasteful spending practices at the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, the agency which operates the crossing, and had recently called for local officials to oppose the unnecessary bridge plan.
“I am glad that the Hunterdon County Board of Chosen Freeholders has taken the time to review the Scudder Falls Bridge Project, and I’m not surprised that they arrived at the same conclusion that I did,” said Doherty. “Elected officials on both sides of the Delaware River should be concerned that free crossings that their constituents depend upon will be tolled unnecessarily, and that tolls at all crossings will likely need to increase to pay for this boondoggle of a project.”
Senator Michael Doherty (R-23) responded to reports that the New Jersey State Police has acknowledged that excessive force was used against a mentally disabled man, James Bayliss, who was a passenger in a car that had been stopped by Troopers in 2009 while searching for burglary suspects. In audio recorded by a Trooper’s microphone, the driver of the stopped vehicle can be heard explaining Bayliss’s condition to Troopers prior to the incident.
“It appears that the driver did his best to make sure that Troopers were aware that Mr. Bayliss suffered from a mental disability as a result of a traumatic brain injury that could make his behavior seem strange,” said Doherty. “The dash camera video of James Bayliss being thrown to the ground, beaten and apparently rammed head first into a patrol car by State Troopers would be disturbing even if his condition had not just been explained.”
Senator Michael Doherty (R-23) held a State House press conference on Thursday, May 17 to express his opposition to the replacement and tolling of the Scudder Falls bridge, which carries Interstate 95 traffic over the Delaware River between New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Senator Michael Doherty (R-23) and Senator Shirley Turner (D-15) will hold a State House press conference on Thursday, May 17 to express their opposition to the replacement and tolling of the Scudder Falls bridge, which carries Interstate 95 traffic over the Delaware River between New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Who: Senator Michael Doherty (R-23); Senator Shirley Turner (D-15); Jeff Tittel – Director, New Jersey Sierra Club; Steve Lonegan – State Director, Americans for Prosperity – New Jersey; Ed Smith – Commissioner, Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission
What: Press conference to oppose construction of new Scudder Falls bridge and introduction of tolling at the currently free crossing.
Where: New Jersey State House, Room 103
When: Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 1 PM
Senator Michael Doherty (R-23), the sponsor of legislation that would result in the elimination of red light camera ticketing systems in New Jersey, has launched an online petition in support of the effort. The petition can be signed by visiting http://www.senatenj.com/cameras.
“In the few days since my legislation banning red light cameras was introduced, the amount of support I’ve received has been overwhelming,” said Doherty. “People really dislike the cameras, but aren’t sure what to do about it. That’s why I launched our online petition to ensure that people can have their voices heard and be counted in their support of this legislation to prohibit red light cameras and automated ticketing systems.”
Senator Michael Doherty (R-23) will hold a State House press conference on Thursday, May 17 to express his opposition to the replacement and tolling of the Scudder Falls bridge, which carries Interstate 95 traffic over the Delaware River between New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Who: Senator Michael Doherty (R-23); Jeff Tittel – Director, New Jersey Sierra Club; Steve Lonegan – State Director, Americans for Prosperity – New Jersey; Ed Smith – Commissioner, Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission
Senator Michael Doherty (R-23) has introduced legislation that would ban municipalities from using camera systems which detect violations of traffic control signals and automate the process of issuing tickets to drivers.
“Although red light cameras were sold to the public as a way to make dangerous intersections safer, it’s become clear that municipalities are primarily interested in the revenues generated by the cameras through tickets and fines,” said Doherty. “There is little if any evidence that the use of red light cameras in New Jersey has reduced the number or severity of accidents at the intersections where they are used. When combined with serious questions regarding personal privacy and the process and constitutionality of being ticketed by a machine, I believe it’s time that we put this ill-conceived red light camera experiment to rest.”
The legislation prevents municipalities that do not currently use red light cameras from employing the systems, and would prohibit municipalities that already use the systems from renewing their contracts with the vendors that operate and maintain them. Additionally, the bill removes the provision from current law that provides law enforcement with a 90-day time frame to issue tickets for violations of traffic control devices, including those generated by red light camera systems.
“It’s nearly impossible to challenge a ticket generated by a red light camera when it arrives in the mail weeks or even months after an alleged violation,” said Doherty. “When a police officer pulls you over, you have the opportunity to talk to the officer to explain why a ticket should not be issued or to make notes to challenge a ticket while the situation is still fresh in your mind. You don’t have those options with a camera. Who really remembers the exact details of one specific instance of passing through an intersection when an automatically generated ticket arrives in the mail 90 days later?”
Doherty noted that at least nine states have banned the use of automated red light camera ticketing systems due to privacy and constitutional concerns. Additionally, a number of local governments across the county that have employed cameras and automated ticketing systems have scrapped the cameras due to their ineffectiveness.
“People question the propriety of having governments and unaccountable vendors taking photos and videos of them and recording their location as they go about their lives,” said Doherty. “People should be free to travel without worrying that their every move is being tracked in a database somewhere. These systems represent a further encroachment of our civil liberties, all to help local politicians keep spending. It’s time to say enough’s enough and pull the plug on red light cameras.”
