Starting in March, township police will start a seven-month crackdown on cell phone use and texting while driving.
Hillsborough police have received a $10,000 grant from the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety to provide overtime patrols to enforce the anti-distraction driving laws. The program will run from March through September.
Since March 2008, it is a primary motor vehicle offense for a driver to talk, listen or text with a hand-held wireless telephone or electronic communication device.
The exceptions are if a driver has reason to fear for his or her life; is reporting a fire, traffic crash, serious road hazard, medical or hazardous material emergency; or is reporting another motorist who appears to be driving in a reckless manner, possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Township police will be writing tickets for the violation, which carries about a $130 fine, Chief Paul Kaminsky said. No points will be assessed for the offense.
The chief said he thought the program “is a great follow-up” to early winter’s two-month countywide Distracted Driving Warning Initiative. Hillsborough joined the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, Somerset County Chiefs of Police Association, Somerset Medical Center and Emergency Medical Associates to promote the dangers of texting and driving through the issuance of warnings and recommending violators be able to watch a video to avoid a written summons and fine.
Hillsborough police will have extra officers patrolling the roads and specifically targeting and pulling over violators, the chief said.
”I am sure between now and September, we will set up one or two checkpoints,” he said.

