Atlantic County Ramps Up School Zone Traffic Enforcement

With classrooms filling up again across our region, law enforcement agencies are putting drivers on notice: school zone safety is a top priority this fall.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office has announced a Back to School Safety Initiative, working alongside the Atlantic County Sheriff's Office and the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety Atlantic–Cape May Region to protect students during their daily commutes.

Officers will concentrate their presence in school zones during the busiest times of the school day—between 7 and 9 a.m. when students arrive, and again from 3 to 5 p.m. during dismissal. During these critical windows, authorities are asking motorists to slow down, put away their cellphones, watch carefully for children near crosswalks and bus stops, and respect school bus signals.

The campaign builds on an active summer of traffic safety efforts throughout Atlantic County. Between April and August, the CARE Task Force conducted 10 enforcement and outreach operations that led to 978 traffic stops, 657 summonses issued, seven vehicles towed, and two arrests for driving under the influence.

Atlantic County Prosecutor William Reynolds emphasized the heightened stakes now that school is back in session, noting that thousands of children are once again walking on streets and sidewalks, waiting at bus stops, and depending on drivers to make responsible choices behind the wheel.

Atlantic County Sheriff Joseph "Tokyo" O'Donoghue echoed that message, calling on drivers to reduce their speed, avoid phone distractions, and stay vigilant as school buses, pedestrians, and young drivers navigate area roadways.

The fall enforcement push will feature multiple components: heightened patrols in school zones, targeted enforcement during morning and afternoon rush periods, public service announcements, safety messaging through social media channels, and ongoing CARE Task Force operations. Authorities have identified speeding, distracted driving, and illegally passing school buses as particularly dangerous behaviors they'll be watching for.

Students also have a role to play in staying safe. Officials are reminding young people to use designated crosswalks, follow instructions from crossing guards, make themselves visible to drivers, and keep phones and earbuds tucked away while crossing streets.

The mission behind the initiative is straightforward: prevent crashes that don't need to happen and ensure every student makes it to school and back home safely each day.