Marlboro police are right:
Enough with the warnings
We are in wholehearted agreement with, and support, the Marlboro Police Department as its officers have started writing tickets for violations of the state’s ban on watering.
As a result of the drought condition that has blanketed New Jersey for months, a statewide ban has been in effect since August on several water uses. Lawn watering at any residence, business or institution is prohibited, barring a few specific exceptions. Additional bans have been placed on washing cars, impervious surfaces and even serving water at a restaurant without a specific request by a customer.
A complete list of the restrictions and exceptions can be found at www.njdrought.org.
As of Sept. 26, 36 summonses and more than 200 warnings had been issued in Marlboro, according to a memo from Police Chief Robert C. Holmes to Mayor Matthew Scannapieco. Fines for a violation of the restrictions on water use can run up to $1,000.
Despite the heavy press coverage and long duration of the drought conditions, police said many residents still claimed they were unaware of the situation. Police said some residents have been warned more than once, a factor that led officers to their decision to issue summonses.
At this point in time it is hard to believe that any resident of New Jersey could be unaware of the water-use restrictions. Therefore, it can only be assumed that violators just don’t care enough to protect a precious resource. In that case, they deserve what they get.
Police in area towns who are still issuing warnings should consider that enough is enough. Tickets, not warnings, will get that water turned off.