SOUTH BRUNSWICK – Police get safety award

By Mary Brienza, Staff Writer
   The Police Department has been awarded for its efforts in traffic safety in 2010 with the New Jersey Law Enforcement Challenge award, according to police.
   According to police, this is a competition that recognizes traffic safety programs that are the best overall in the state among law enforcement agencies that are about the same size and type.
   ”The award is recognition of our department’s commitment to increasing motorists’ safety through awareness, education and enforcement,” Chief Raymond Hayducka said in a statement.
   Police said the application documented the agency’s efforts to enforce laws for and educate residents about occupant protection, impaired driving and speeding.
   The winning programs combined officer training, public information and enforcement to reduce crashes and injuries, police said.
   A panel of judges reviewed the applications and assigned points based on certain criteria. Each judge’s score was averaged after judging was completed, and each submission was given a final score, according to police.
   Police said the township’s Police Department had the top score for the entire competition, which recognized efforts in increasing traffic safety.
   In 2010, there was a 17 percent reduction in accidents, an 11 percent increase in impaired driver arrests and an 8 percent increase in occupant seat belt usage, according to police.
   This challenge is funded by a grant given to the International Association of Chiefs of Police by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, according to police.
   These organizations believe that by increasing traffic enforcement, there will be a decrease in motor vehicle crashes, injuries and fatalities, police said.
   According to police, the department was given a new Truspeed Lidar radar gun because of its efforts.
   The Truspeed Lidar gun is manufactured by Laser Technology Inc. and can pinpoint vehicles in traffic in multiple lanes, is impervious to lidar and radar detectors, has “courtroom credibility” and is very easy to use, according to the Laser Technology website.
   Lidar is technology that uses light detection and ranging, according to the Laser Technology website.
   Laser Technology Inc. is a Colorado based corporation that has worked with the U.S. government for more than 24 years and designs and manufactures laser-based speed and distance measurement instruments, according to its website.
   The value of this radar gun is about $1,695, according to Alex Golovko, who is in the business relations department of Laser Technology Inc.
   He said this radar gun is “way more effective” than traditional radar guns.
   ”(It will) definitely keep the speeders away,” Mr. Golovko said.
   The Truspeed’s laser is a very narrow beam that can single out a car at a maximum range of 2,000 feet, he said.