CNBNews

On the day the photo was taken Mayor James was nearly hit by a driver who was speeding as he walked in the crosswalk from one side of Johnson Blvd. to the other side near Martins Lake. The new stop sign was sitting in the middle of the crosswalk. The woman was stopped. When asked by the mayor, “didn’t you see the sign? You must stop when a pedestrian is walking across the street! She apologized and said she was loss in her thoughts. She received a warning from Chief Berglund.

“Police will be enforcing the law and I urge drivers to slow down and obey the speed limit,” said Berglund.

NEW JERSEY STATUTE 39:4-36 took effect April 1, 2010. The law states, The driver of a vehicle must stop for a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except at crosswalks when the movement of traffic is being regulated by police officers or traffic control signals, or where otherwise prohibited by municipal, county, or State regulation, and except where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided, but no pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield.

Nothing contained herein shall relieve a pedestrian from using due care for his safety. Whenever any vehicle is stopped to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass such stopped vehicle.

Every pedestrian upon a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway. Failure to observe the law may subject you to one or more of the following: 2 points, $200 fine plus court costs, 15 day community service, insurance surcharges.