By Barbara A. Preston for The Montgomery News | September 11, 2026
As traffic is heavier than ever on Montgomery Township roads, residents are complaining. Pedestrians cannot safely cross streets, drivers speed along local roads, driving erratically and crossing double yellow lines to pass those who obey the speed limit. And, 16 fatal accidents have been registered in Somerset County so far this year.
The Montgomery Township Police Department is taking proactive measures to avoid catastrophes. They conducted several targeted traffic enforcement initiatives aimed at improving roadway safety and addressing violations that contribute to crashes, injuries, and fatalities.
The enforcement efforts focus on impaired driving, distracted driving, pedestrian safety, speeding, traffic-control violations, and other motor vehicle violations. Collectively, officers conducted 126 hours of targeted enforcement, 360 motor vehicle stops, and issued 199 summonses, while also identifying multiple outstanding warrants.
Montgomery Police Chief Silvio Bet emphasized the department's traffic enforcement efforts are focused on preventing crashes and protecting everyone who uses the township's roadways.
“Our traffic enforcement efforts are about much more than issuing summonses," he told The Montgomery News. "They are about changing driver behavior, preventing crashes, and protecting the lives of motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and everyone who uses our roadways.”
“Whether we are addressing impaired driving, distracted driving, speeding, or failure to stop for pedestrians, our officers are working to make Montgomery Township roads safer. Our goal is simple — to prevent crashes and save lives." — Chief Silvio Bet
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The recent traffic enforcement initiatives took place on Cherry Valley and Orchard roads, and on Rutgers and Autumn lanes on September 8 and 9. Other targeted enforcements occured in late August and in April and May of this year.
As part of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, made possible through the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, Montgomery Township officers conducted 36 hours of targeted enforcement. Officers made 74 motor vehicle stops, resulting in 25 summonses.
The violations included:
3 speeding violations
4 stop sign/red light violations
2 other Chapter 4 violations
2 suspended driver's license violations
3 unregistered motor vehicle violations
1 failure-to-inspect violation
2 unclear license plate violations
7 other Chapter 3 violations (governs motor vehicle registration, driver licensing, and vehicle equipment)
1 maintenance of lamps violation
Montgomery Township Police conducted 14 hours of targeted enforcement funded through the Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund. During the detail, officers conducted 23 motor vehicle stops, resulting in seven summonses and the identification of one NCIC warrant.
The summonses included: 1 speeding violation; 1 suspended driver's license violation; 1 unregistered motor vehicle violation; 3 other Chapter 4 violations; 1 other Chapter 3 violation.
The department also participated in NJ Goal Zero, an initiative based on the belief that traffic deaths should not be accepted as an inevitable consequence of roadway use. The initiative seeks to reduce traffic fatalities to as close to zero as possible through a combination of enforcement, education, engineering, and other traffic-safety strategies.
Montgomery Township Police conducted eight hours of Goal Zero enforcement, making 16 motor vehicle stops and issuing five summonses. Those summonses included: 2 stop sign violations; 1 other Chapter 4 violation; 1 unregistered motor vehicle violation, and 1 speeding violation.
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Distracted driving remains a significant concern on New Jersey roadways. Through grant funding provided by the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, the Montgomery Township Police Department conducted 60 hours of targeted distracted driving enforcement.
The initiative resulted in 137 motor vehicle stops and 96 summonses for various motor vehicle violations. Of those summonses, 73 were for cell phone violations, underscoring the department's continued focus on drivers who use handheld devices while operating a motor vehicle.
Additional summonses included:
7 other Chapter 4 violations
3 speeding violations
3 unregistered motor vehicle violations
2 failure-to-inspect violations
2 unclear license plate violations
1 suspended driver's license violation
1 child restraint violation
1 ATS warrant
The department also conducted eight hours of targeted pedestrian safety enforcement focused on protecting pedestrians and reinforcing New Jersey's requirement that motorists stop for pedestrians in marked crosswalks.
The enforcement effort was made possible through support from AAA Northeast. The Montgomery Township Police Department appreciates AAA Northeast's commitment to pedestrian safety and its support of efforts that provide additional resources to protect vulnerable roadway users.
During the enforcement period, officers conducted 110 stops and issued 66 summonses. Of those summonses, 63 were for failure to stop for a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk.
Additional violations included:
1 unregistered motor vehicle violation
1 speeding violation
1 cell phone violation
The department is grateful to AAA Northeast for providing the funding that made this pedestrian safety enforcement initiative possible. Partnerships such as this allow law enforcement agencies to dedicate additional resources to targeted enforcement and education efforts designed to prevent crashes and protect pedestrians.
Chief Bet: Traffic Safety Is a Shared Responsibility
Chief Bet added, "We appreciate the support of our community partners, including AAA Northeast, whose commitment to pedestrian safety helps us put additional resources toward protecting those who are most vulnerable on our roadways.”
These enforcement efforts demonstrate the Montgomery Township Police Department's continued commitment to proactive, data-driven traffic enforcement. Officers will continue to focus on violations and behaviors that have the potential to cause crashes, serious injuries, and fatalities.
The department reminds motorists that every traffic stop represents an opportunity to prevent a crash and potentially save a life. Drivers should obey posted speed limits and traffic signals, remain attentive behind the wheel, never drive while impaired, put down their cell phones, and yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks.
The Montgomery Township Police Department encourages all motorists to make safe driving decisions every time they get behind the wheel.
