Holmdel Police Remind Motorists To Avoid Traveling Today

HOLMDEL, NJ - The Holmdel Police Department is reminding motorists to always remove accumulated ice and snow from their vehicles before traveling on state roadways.

They also indicate that with Gov. Christie delaring Monmouth County to be in a state of emergency, there is no legal justification for being on the roads.

Back in Holmdel, motorists who fail to clear their vehicles of ice and snow before driving can be cited and fined under an amended law, which became effective Oct. 20, 2010. Prior to this change, a motorist could only receive a citation if failure to remove ice and snow from a vehicle resulted in injury to others or property damage, police said.
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Fines for violating the new law range from $25 to $75. No motor vehicle points will be assessed for this offense. If failure to remove ice and snow results in injury or property damage, motorists face fines ranging from $200 to $1000, while commercial motor vehicle drivers face fines ranging from $500 to $1,500 for each offense.

A Holmdel Township ordinance indicates that whenever there is snowfall and enough accumulates to cover streets, an emergency shall exist, and no vehicle shall be parked on any street. These parking prohibitions shall remain in effect after the snow has ceased and until the streets have been sufficiently plowed.

Compliance is necessary to avoid interfering with the road departments snow plowing operations and the possibility of being issued a summons or having your car towed, police said.
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In anticipation of inclement weather, motorists are encouraged to:
• Tune up and winterize their vehicles, as well as check the radiator, battery, antifreeze and all other fluid levels.
• Check tire treads and replace them if they’re unsafe.
• Check and replace windshield wiper blades if the rubber is cracked and/or brittle. Be sure to check and refill the washer fluid reservoir.
• Maintain at least a half a tank of gas during the winter to prevent the fuel line from freezing.

Motorists also should keep a winter driving “safety kit” in their vehicles that is easily accessible in the event of an emergency. The kit should include: an ice scraper/brush; shovel; jumper cables or battery starter; warm blanket; sand, salt or cat litter for traction in ice and snow; de-icer; safety flares/warning devices; flashlight and new batteries; extra windshield washer fluid; cell phone with a charged spare battery; water and non-perishable food such as granola or protein bars and, paper towels or a cloth.

For more information on winter driving, motorists can visit the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety’s web site, at www.njsaferoads.com. If you have any questions, contact the Traffic Safety Unit:
Traffic Safety Supervisor Sergeant Vincent Imperato at 732-946-9690 ext. 1731 or vimperato@holmdelpolice.org or Traffic Safety Officer Patrolman Christopher Cherney at (732) 946-9690 ext. 1733 or ccherney@holmdelpolice.org.

A state of emergency has been declared in Monmouth County. Image via Shutterstock.