CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, N.J. – Cape May County’s summer highway crackdown wrapped up Friday with police stopping 55 vehicles along two busy Jersey Shore corridors and arresting two people who were wanted on outstanding warrants.
The Aug. 28 operation was the final summer enforcement detail conducted by the county’s SHIELD Task Force, a multi-agency program created by Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland to target dangerous driving.
Ten law enforcement agencies participated, concentrating officers along Route 147, also known as North Wildwood Boulevard, and Route 47 South from the George Redding Bridge to Route 9. Police issued 18 motor vehicle summonses during the operation.
Police Target Route 147 and Route 47
The latest detail put officers along roads that carry heavy local and Shore traffic, particularly during the summer tourism season.
In addition to the 18 summonses, officers arrested two people after discovering outstanding warrants during the traffic operation. The prosecutor’s office did not identify either person or disclose the warrants involved.
The operation follows several other SHIELD details conducted across Cape May County this summer.
- Officers conducted 55 motor vehicle stops during Friday’s enforcement detail.
- Police issued 18 summonses and made two arrests on outstanding warrants.
- Ten law enforcement agencies participated along Route 147 and Route 47 South.
An earlier Aug. 8 SHIELD enforcement operation resulted in 51 traffic stops, 25 summonses and two DWI arrests.
What does SHIELD stand for?
SHIELD stands for Safety on Highways through Intensive Enforcement & Law Enforcement Deployment, a Cape May County initiative aimed at reducing dangerous driving and serious crashes.
Cape May County Police Can Cross Municipal Lines During SHIELD Details
Sutherland launched the SHIELD initiative ahead of the busy Shore season as a way to concentrate officers on roads identified through crash and traffic data.
One feature of the program gives participating officers broader reach during sanctioned operations.
Under a law enforcement directive issued by Sutherland, officers working an official SHIELD detail are authorized to enforce New Jersey motor vehicle laws outside their usual municipal jurisdictions anywhere in Cape May County.
That allows multiple departments to work together on a single stretch of roadway rather than having enforcement end at a municipal boundary.
The task force focuses on speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving and aggressive driving, along with other behavior linked to serious and fatal crashes.
Why are police from different towns allowed to make traffic stops during SHIELD operations?
Sutherland issued a countywide law enforcement directive authorizing participating officers to enforce New Jersey Title 39 motor vehicle laws outside their normal municipal jurisdictions while assigned to officially sanctioned SHIELD operations.
Prosecutor Credits Task Force Commander for Summer Operations
With the final summer detail complete, Sutherland singled out Lt. Maurice Catarcio, who served as SHIELD Task Force commander.
“The success of SHIELD required extensive planning, communication, coordination, and attention to logistics among numerous law enforcement agencies,” Sutherland said.
He credited Catarcio with organizing the operations and coordinating the agencies involved throughout the initiative.
“Lieutenant Catarcio took on that responsibility and worked diligently to ensure each detail was organized and effectively executed,” Sutherland said. “His dedication was instrumental to the success of this initiative.”
Although Friday’s operation was described as the final summer detail, SHIELD was established as a broader countywide traffic-safety initiative rather than a one-time enforcement campaign.
What violations is the SHIELD Task Force looking for?
The initiative uses traffic data to identify high-risk roads and focuses enforcement on speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, aggressive driving and other conduct associated with serious and fatal crashes.
Sources: Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office Aug. 28 SHIELD Task Force release; Shore News Network coverage of the Aug. 8 SHIELD operation; Shore News Network coverage of the SHIELD Task Force launch
