JAMESBURG–In order to restrict large vehicles from traveling on the municipality’s busiest streets, the Borough Council introduced an ordinance that would increase the current penalty.
The borough code restricts vehicles with a height of 12 feet or more from traveling on Gatzmer Avenue between West Railroad Avenue and Bordentown-South Amboy Turnpike, according to the council agenda.
“Truckers are following their GPS’s on their phones and not looking at the road. Conrail has a bridge that is only 12 feet high on Gatzmer Avenue and sometimes the trucks run into the bridge and others they do not, but they have to back out from the bridge,” Borough Administrator Scott Frueh said.
The council approved the first reading of this ordinance on Feb. 20. The second and final reading is set for March 20.
The first offense would be a fine of not less than $1,500. For a subsequent offense, the person shall pay a fine of not less than $2,000, according to the council agenda.
Previously, for a first-time offense, any person would have had to pay a $750 fine. For a subsequent offense, the person would have had to pay a $1,000 fine, according to the council agenda.
“We are working with Middlesex County to get a flashing sign to stop them from coming that far down on Gatzmer Avenue, but we are just increasing the fee that is already in place,” Frueh said.
For more information, visit www.jamesburgborough.org/government/borough_council/agendas_&_minutes.php.
Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.
