Fighting that traffic ticket

Catherine Kness of Trenton
To the editor:
    For anyone who has ever suffered a traffic ticket on Bakers Basin Road associated with “No U-Turn” signs/Lawrence Township — this alert may perk your interest into action.
   Statute 39:4-197/Motor Vehicle & Traffic Regulation allows a municipality to install traffic control devices without implementing the DOT approval process. My concern is that no U-turn signs are clearly not addressed or included within this statue.
   Secondly, the no U-turn signs located at 209 Baker’s Basin Road / Shemin Landscape, have no documented history with DOT, or within the Township of Lawrence.
   A third issue is to define a U-turn, as this is not addressed in the New Jersey drivers manual, as published by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.
   I met with Mayor Mark Holmes on Nov. 14 to alert him to this ongoing situation. Papers have been delivered to the township attorney. My own court date is on Dec. 2, and I will bring the matter to the attention of the Lawrence Town Council that evening.
   It may be that it is the job of Lawrenceville officials to find a legal loophole. But would it not set a wonderful example of government “doing the right thing” to make the correction by removing the signs and reimburse drives for their losses?
   It is my challenge and hope that the Township of Lawrence will handle this matter with grace and integrity.
Catherine Kness
Trenton