Residents are reporting more hit-and-run accidents along Main Street (Route 29).
By: Linda Seida
STOCKTON The Borough Council agreed Monday to ask the state police for additional patrols because of increased hazards on Main Street.
Resident David Shearer asked the council to do something to step up protection. He’s had two parked vehicles hit when they sat outside his Main Street home. The first suffered just a broken side mirror, but the second hit and run in February caused $1,000 in damages, he said.
"They come ripping through here both ways," Mr. Shearer said of drivers passing through town via Main Street, which is also Route 29, a north-south state highway. "It’s like a lawless town. We need more police protection. We need protection, period."
Mr. Shearer, a member of the Stockton Public School Board of Education, said he isn’t the only one who has been a victim of hit-and-run drivers. He said his neighbors also were the victims of a "far more serious" accident about four or five months ago, one so forceful it blew out two tires.
He estimated there were a few others over the past six months. And now all the neighbors are wise to the perils of parking on Main Street, he said, and they make sure to pull their vehicles around to other streets by 10 p.m.
Council President Michael Hagerty said, "This is the first we’ve heard we’ve had these kinds of incidents."
Stockton does not employ its own police force. The town relies on the state police for coverage.
Mr. Shearer and council members said the state police are responsive when called.
Last year, Gov. Jon Corzine floated a proposal to have towns that rely on state police pay for the service. In Stockton, that could have amounted to about $72,000.
Mr. Hagerty said the town looked into the possibility of sharing services with Delaware Township, but that would cost "far more than $72,000."
Mr. Shearer said he was satisfied with the council’s decision to ask state police for more attention.
"This is the first step," he said. "They can’t work miracles. I wanted to make my concerns known."
Speeding and other traffic violations go on in every town, Councilman Neal Esposito said.
"I would say yes, but when you go to Lambertville, nobody goes more than 25 mph on Main Street in Lambertville," Mr. Shearer said.
"Let’s face it," Councilman Andrew Giannattasio said. "When you go through Lambertville, you always expect to see a police car."
"Maybe Stockton’s going to have to bite the bullet and pay" for police protection, Mr. Shearer said after the council meeting. He said he isn’t against paying more to have that.

