Mercer Co. Traffic Crackdown Nets 185 Violations, 3 Arrests: Prosecutor

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — A new traffic safety operation in Trenton led to 185 motor vehicle violations and three arrests, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office said.

The operation took place on Oct. 22, and was the first under the county’s new ACED (Awareness & Community Education for Drivers) program, Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey said in a news release Thursday. The prosecutor’s office ran it with the newly formed Trenton Police Department Traffic Enforcement Unit and the New Jersey State Police.

Officers focused on the Route 129 and Route 29 corridors, which officials identified as high-priority areas for reducing crashes.

During the operation, officers stopped drivers for violations considered most likely to lead to dangerous driving, according to the prosecutor’s office. Results included:

• 185 motor vehicle violations
• Three arrests: two for driving under the influence and one for a controlled dangerous substance
• Three roadway safety improvements identified

ACED is a data-driven enforcement program meant to reduce serious and fatal crashes involving pedestrians and vehicles, officials said. Enforcement locations are chosen based on crash trends and roadway risk assessments.

Along with traffic stops, officers assessed the enforcement area for safety concerns. They documented three engineering recommendations to improve pedestrian and driver safety, which will be sent to the appropriate municipal, county or state departments for review, according to the release.

The prosecutor’s office did not say what the recommendations were or when the next ACED operation will take place.

More information on the ACED initiative is available from Sgt. Anthony Sturchio at 609-503-2952 or at mercercountyprosecutor.com.

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