New Jersey Police Traffic Officers Association

(Links to download copies of the above poster along with others can be found in the Training Section of this website)

Remember the five tenets of Below 100
Wear your seat belt
Watch your speed
Wear your vest
WIN: What's Important Now
Complacency kills
&
When in traffic
Wear your high visibility safety vest !!

Stay Safe Out There

Est. 1974

Our Mission Statement

Established in 1974
This organization shall be known as the New Jersey Police Traffic Officers' Association

which is formed for the following purposes:

To associate Police Officers engaged in the various areas of Traffic Safety into an organized body so they may be kept apprised of the latest technology, training, and legislation in the areas of Traffic Safety.

To establish and advance cooperation in the police profession and provide guidance and educational techniques to accomplish the goals of the association.

To contribute time and effort to the citizens of New Jersey by means of serving on statewide traffic safety committees.

To recommend and support legislation consistent with the goals and purposes of this association and public safety.

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Notices & Information Related COVID-19

Click Here to View All Executive Orders / OEM Administrative Orders / MVC Orders

5/8/20 - NJMVC agencies & inspection sites will remain closed until at least May 26th, find a list of expanded online services at NJMVC.gov.

5/8/20 - The Delaware River Port Authority has announced that it will reopen cash toll lanes on its four bridges that connect Pennsylvania with South Jersey, starting at 6 a.m. on Monday, May 11th. These bridges are the Ben Franklin, Walt Whitman, Betsy Ross, and Commodore Barry Bridges.

4/19/20 - Amid Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, Governor Murphy, Governor Cuomo, Governor Lamont Announce Alignment of State Policies for Marinas and Boatyards

4/16/20 - The 36th Annual New Jersey Law Enforcement Memorial Service has been canceled - which was scheduled for Tuesday, May 19th in Ocean Grove.  The NJ State Association of Chiefs of Police and the NJ Police Chiefs Foundation are currently working on alternative plans to honor the NJ Law Enforcement Officers who lost their lives in the line of duty this past year, as well as those who made the ultimate sacrifice over the past 150+ years.

In the meantime, we send our thoughts to the families and agencies of the following officers who we will be remembering this year.

Officer Paul D. Pallas Sergeant Vincent J. Oliva   Officer Mark J. Meier
Port Authority of NY/NJ Police Department    Port Authority of NY/NJ Police Department   Port Authority of NY/NJ Police Department
EOW: March 14, 2011 EOW: November 27, 2013 EOW: July 31, 2017

Sergeant Bryan McCoy    Officer William J. Leahy    Detective Joseph Seals
New Jersey State Police Port Authority of NY/NJ Police Department Jersey City Police Department
EOW: April 6, 2019 EOW: June 6, 2019    EOW: December 10, 2019

Detective April E. Bird
Asbury Park Police Department
EOW: August 5, 2019

4/15/20 - NJMVC Update - All New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission agencies, road testing, and inspection facilities remain closed to the public as a measure to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, through April 26, 2020.

Headquarters (TOC) and online services will continue operations.
All driver licenses, non-driver IDs, vehicle registrations, and inspection stickers expiring before May 31 have been extended by two months.
Most renewals, replacements, changes of address, and other transactions can be processed online at NJMVC.gov.

Click here to view/download NJMVC's COVID-19 Information Sheet.

4/6/20 - The Police Security Expo in Atlantic City has been postponed to August 26 & 26, 2020.

4/4/20 - Agencies Collaborate, Shift Work Duties to Fit Pandemic Response - The coronavirus pandemic has required all hands to be on deck in the federal government. To match the president’s call for a whole of government response, federal agencies are shifting strategies and collaborating in new ways to better serve the American people. Read about a collaboration between the FDA, NIH, and VA; supplies at the DoD; educational opportunities at NASA, and more!

4/3/20 - President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice Holds Teleconferences Related to Social Problems Impacting Public Safety

4/1/20 - National Police Week 2020 all in-person public events in Washington DC have been canceled for this year. The National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum will combine the 2020 events into the traditional 2021 Police Week events. This crisis will not deter them from honoring the 2019 fallen. On May 13, 2020, they plan to hold a virtual Candlelight Vigil and the reading of the names that can be watched from anywhere in the world. COPS is hosting an interactive virtual event on May 14th. The FOP is planning a memorial video event on May 15th.

4/1/20 - Gov. Phil Murphy, Senate President Steve Sweeney, and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin have issued a joint statement, extending the state income-tax filing deadline and the corporation business-tax filing deadline from April 15th to July 15th because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, they have announced a change in the state budget timetable, extending the close of the current fiscal year to September 30th from June 30th.

3/31/20 - NJ State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick J. Callahan says a total of 383 law-enforcement officers across New Jersey have tested positive for COVID-19, and 3,081 are self-quarantining at home.

The upcoming National Prescription Drug Take Back Day scheduled for Saturday, April 25, 2020, is postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The DEA will reschedule Take Back Day for a date shortly after the health crisis recedes and national emergency guidelines are lifted

BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE - Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program

This program is will provide funding to assist eligible states, local units of government, and tribes in preventing, preparing for, and responding to the coronavirus. Applications Due: May 29, 2020

In the wake of COVID-19 Civil Service has suspended all civil service exams and training until further notice.

NJ Supreme Court - Supreme Court Omnibus Order on Covid-19 Issues directs the following closures: Grand Jury, Criminal Trials, suspended and Municipal Courts will be closed until at least April 26th.

March 24th - Colonel Callahan, in his role as State Director of Emergency Management, issued NJ OEM Administrative Order 2020-5 expanding the essential retail businesses to include the following:

Mobile phone retail and repair shops
Bicycle Shops, but only to provide service and repair
Livestock feed stores
Nurseries and garden centers
Farming equipment stores

An essential retail business is permitted to remain open during their during normal business hours provided they adhere to the social distancing guidelines as outlined in Executive Order 107. In addition, the order clarified that municipalities have the discretion to impose additional restrictions on local beaches and boardwalks in response to COVID-19.
The order took effect immediately.

March 23rd - President Trump said that he is pushing back the deadline for when Americans will be required to have the new Real ID credential to board domestic flights. At a White House briefing, Trump said he is postponing the Oct. 1 deadline, citing the coronavirus crisis and concerns of crowding at state departments of motor vehicles from people trying to meet the looming deadline. No new deadline for compliance has been set, though Trump said a new date would be announced soon.

March 23rd - The NJ Supreme Court has ordered the release from county jails, municipal court-sentenced inmates, and others who are serving jail sentences as a condition of probation. This action was taken to mitigate the danger of the spread of the Corona Virus. Click here for a copy of the order.

March 21st - Governor Murphy announced the launch of the NJ COVID-19 Information Hub, a new website available at covid19.nj.gov. The Hub provides us with the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 and the State's response, including information about services such as food assistance and small business assistance.

March 21st - The IRS announced the 2019 income tax filing and payment deadlines for all taxpayers who file and pay their Federal income taxes on April 15, 2020, are automatically extended until July 15, 2020. This applies to all individual returns, trusts, and corporations and includes estimated tax payments for the tax year 2020 that are due on April 15th. This relief is automatic, taxpayers do not need to file any additional forms or call the IRS to qualify.

Governor Murphy signed several bills into law on March 20th, Below are three that have an impact on municipal governments:

A-3849/S-2302 – Modifies deadline by which public agency is required to respond to request for government record during a period of emergency
A-3850/S-2294 – Allows public bodies to conduct meetings, and provide notice, by electronic means during periods of emergency
A-3851/S-2295 – Permits extension of deadlines for adoption of county and municipal budgets under certain circumstances

March 21st - U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito of the District of New Jersey urged the public to report suspected fraud schemes related to COVID-19 by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline (1-866-720-5721) or to the NCDF e-mail address disaster@leo.gov

March 19th - Governor Murphy also ordered the closure of personal care businesses at 8 pm March 19th, (such as barbershops, hair salons, nail salons, tattoo parlors, and massage parlors) which cannot comply with social distancing guidelines, until further notice.

March 18th - Governor Murphy, Governor Cuomo, Governor Lamont, and Governor Wolf directed temporary closure of all indoor portions of retail shopping malls, amusement parks, & bowling alleys - effective by 8 PM Thursday, March 19th.

NJ Supreme Court ordered a two-week suspension of all Municipal Court sessions as part of the efforts to contain the spread of the COVI D-19 coronavirus. This suspension of Municipal Court sessions will begin Monday, March 16 and continue through Friday, March 27, 2020.

Canceled Training, Classes, Conferences, & More

Most of these will be rescheduled, check with the respective sponsoring agency for when the new dates might be set.
Rutgers CAIT
* NJLTAP - Traffic Incident Management Training for Emergency Responders, Rutgers CAIT, May 5th

* NJDHTS - NJTR-1 Crash Form Refresher, Middlesex County Fire Academy, May 12th

* UAS Applications for Traffic Safety, Rutgers CAIT, May 13th
NJDHTS / Kean Crash Classes
* All Crash investigation classes (Basic & Advanced) scheduled through the end of May have been canceled (updated April 3rd)
NJDHTS & AAA Clubs of NJ
* 2020 Traffic Safety Symposium on Pedestrian Safety - April 28th - Has been rescheduled to Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Rutgers Center for Government Services

* Practical Traffic Engineering for Police Officers - Spring 2020 class - April 16th to May 14th - will be rescheduled to the fall of 2020

US Supreme Court - all oral arguments scheduled between March 23rd and April 1st will be postponed. The US Supreme Court Building will be closed to the public on March 12th, until further notice. The Building will remain open for official business, and case filing deadlines are not extended under Rule 30.1. All public lectures and visitor programs are temporarily suspended. Updated April 6th - the court has postponed all of its April schedules.

NJAAR - Back to Basics 2020 two-day seminar scheduled for May 28th & 29th has been postponed to a later date to be announced.

Academy Closures

New Jersey Police Training Commission has closed all law enforcement academies effective March 20, 2020. There are three academies running a virtual video classroom for some academic portions. The closures will be reassessed on April 6, 2020. As of April 15th the academies are still closed, nothing has been released publically by the PTC.

NHTSA recognizes that States, law enforcement, and first responders are working tirelessly to respond to the current public health emergency. In order for States and Law Enforcement to prioritize public health, NHTSA is postponing the Distracted Driving, Heatstroke Awareness, and Click It or Ticket enforcement campaigns for the upcoming months.

Please submit all requests for information to be distributed to our association to: traffic@njptoa.org

and be sure to add it to your "Safe Senders" or "Whitelist" to ensure delivery of our emails.

National TIM Awareness Week - November 9th to 15th

WELCOME

New Jersey Police Traffic Officers Association

A chronological listing of the Governor's Executive Orders, NJ OEM Administrative Orders, the NJAG Law Enforcement Directives, and the MVC Administrative Orders all related to the COVID-19 outbreak can be found on the second page of our website.

Click here to go to the list.

Welcome to the official site of the New Jersey Police Traffic Officers Association (NJPTOA).

A unique statewide association, established in 1974, made up of Law Enforcement, Public Sector Agencies, and Private Sector Entities, all with the common goal of enhancing traffic safety in the Garden State.

This site serves as a resource for our members to exchange ideas and build working relationships.

COVID-19 Resources & Information for Law Enforcement

(Older Notices & Information Related to COVID-19 are lower down on this page)

Click Here to View All Executive Orders / OEM Administrative Orders / MVC Orders

10/28/10 - Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order to Protect New Jersey’s Workforce During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Executive Order No. 192, providing mandatory health and safety standards to protect all New Jersey’s workers at work during the pandemic.

The executive order will take the following actions:

Workplace health and safety standards to cover all NJ workers
The executive order will require both private and public sector employers to follow health and safety protocols that will serve to protect their in-person workforces. The Order mandates that as of 6:00 a.m. on November 5th, all employers, at minimum, require individuals at the worksite to maintain at least six feet of distance from others to the maximum extent possible and require employees and visitors to wear masks when entering the worksite, subject to certain limited exceptions.

Other protocols require employers to:
Provide approved sanitization materials to employees and visitors at no cost to those individuals;
Ensure that employees practice hand hygiene and provide sufficient break time for that purpose;
Routinely clean and disinfect all high-touch areas in accordance with DOH and CDC guidelines;
Conduct daily health checks, such as temperature screenings, visual symptom checking, self-assessment checklists, and/or health questionnaires, prior to each shift, consistent with CDC guidance;
Exclude sick employees from the workplace and follow requirements of applicable leave laws; and
Promptly notify employees of any known exposure to COVID-19 at the worksite.

A collaborative enforcement mechanism to address complaints
The Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) will support the Department of Health’s efforts to address worker complaints from their employers. NJDOL’s roles will include establishing an intake form on the NJDOL website to receive complaints and developing an investigation and inspection protocol to review complaints.

Training program to inform workers of their rights and to encourage employer compliance
The executive order also directs NJDOL to provide compliance and safety training for employers and employees. The department will provide materials to inform workers of their rights and businesses of their obligations as well as coordinate with workforce training partners to create and provide training.

For a copy of Executive Order No. 192, please click here.

10/12/20 - Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order Allowing the Resumption of Contact Practices and Competitions for Certain Organized Sports in Indoor Settings

Executive Order No. 187, allowing the resumption of contact practices and competitions in indoor settings for organized sports defined as “medium risk” and “high risk” by the New Jersey Department of Health’s “Guidance for Sports Activities.” The order encompasses sports including hockey, basketball, cheerleading, group dance, rugby, boxing, judo, karate, taekwondo, and wrestling. Governor Murphy previously signed Executive Orders No. 149 and 168, which permitted the resumption of outdoor sports activities, “low risk” practices and competitions in indoor settings, and non-contact indoor practices for “medium risk” and “high risk” sports.

For a copy of Executive Order No. 187, please click here.

9/1/20 - Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order Allowing the Resumption of Indoor Dining Effective Friday, September 4th
Executive Order No. 183 establishes rules for the resumption of indoor dining on Friday, September 4th at 6:00 a.m., provided businesses comply with the health and safety standards issued by the Department of Health. The Governor’s Executive Order also contains requirements for movie theaters and other indoor entertainment businesses, where the number of patrons for a performance will be limited to 25 percent capacity, up to a maximum of 150 people. The Governor’s Order also increases the limits for indoor gatherings that are religious services or celebrations, political activities, wedding ceremonies, funerals, or memorial services to 25 percent capacity with a maximum of 150 people, an increase from the current limit of 25 percent capacity with a maximum of 100 people. Other indoor gatherings, including house parties, remain at the limit of 25 percent capacity with a maximum of 25 people.

Under the Department of Health’s Health and Safety Standards, food or beverage establishments offering in-person service must adhere to the following protocols, among others:

Limit the number of patrons in indoor areas to 25 percent of the food or beverage establishment’s indoor capacity, excluding the food or beverage establishment’s employees;
Limit seating to a maximum of eight (8) customers per table (unless they are from a family from the same household) and arrange seating to achieve a minimum distance of six feet (6 ft) between parties;
Require customers to only consume food or beverages while seated;
Require patrons to wear face coverings while inside the indoor premises of the food or beverage establishment, except when eating or drinking at their table;
Food or beverage establishments with table service must require that customers be seated in order to place orders;
Food or beverage establishments with table service must require that wait staff bring food or beverages to seated customers; and
Keep doors and windows open where possible and utilize fans to improve ventilation.

The Governor’s Executive Order includes requirements for theaters and indoor performance venues to reopen to the public on Friday, September 4, which include:

Any particular showing is limited to 25 percent capacity with a maximum of 150 people;
Groups that buy tickets together can sit together, but must be at least 6 feet apart from all other groups; and
Individuals must wear masks, unless they are removing them to eat or drink concessions.

For a copy of Executive Order No. 183, please click here.
For a copy of the Department of Health Executive Directive, please click here.
For a copy of the Department of Health’s Health and Safety Standards for Indoor Dining in Restaurants, please click here.

8/27/20 - Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order Allowing Gyms and Indoor Amusement and Water Parks to Reopen Effective Tuesday, September 1st
Executive Order No. 181, permits gyms, health clubs, as well as amusement and water parks, to reopen their indoor premises to the public on Tuesday, September 1st at 6:00 a.m., provided these facilities comply with the health and safety standards issued by the Department of Health.

These standards, which will also apply to other recreational businesses that offer fitness classes and activities, include the following, among others:

Limit occupancy of any indoor premises to 25 percent of the stated maximum capacity;
Conduct a temperature screening and questionnaire of staff and clients upon entrance to the facility;
Limit indoor group activities (e.g., classes) to no more than 1 individual per 200 square feet of accessible space or less, with all individuals being able to maintain 6 feet of distance from other individuals during the entire class;
Require workers and customers to wear cloth face coverings at all times, except where doing so would inhibit that individual’s health, such as when in the water and in other situations where the presence of a mask would pose a risk to the individual's health, or where the individual is under two years of age;
Demarcate six feet of distance between equipment, or blocking off equipment to maintain six feet of distancing between individuals using equipment;
Require that reservations, cancellations, and pre-payments be made via electronic or telephone reservation systems to limit physical interactions;
Limit occupancy in restrooms to avoid over-crowding;
Inform clients to arrive dressed to workout/train and bring their own hand towel, water, yoga mat, boxing gloves, and any other equipment;
Not permit the use of showers, with the exception of gyms with pools, which can have individually partitioned showers or communal showers with installed barriers/partitions at least six feet apart;
Limit locker room use to hand washing and restroom use only; and
Adopt infection control practices and enhanced sanitization protocols.

Activities such as swimming in an indoor pool, tanning, outdoor dining, pick-up of food or beverage, and retail sales, which are otherwise permitted but which are not governed by the guidance, remain subject to applicable standards outlined in Executive Orders, Executive Directives, and guidance.

For a copy of Executive Order No. 181, please click here.
For a copy of the Department of Health’s Executive Directive, please click here.
For a copy of the Department of Health's Guidance for Health Clubs/Gyms/Fitness Centers, please click here.

7/24/20 - Department of Education Issues Guidance Allowing Parents to Choose All-Remote Learning for Their Children

The Department’s guidance document, “The Road Back: Restart and Recovery Plan for Education.” Since its release, the Department received feedback from many parents who wanted a greater voice in the decision-making process of whether their child should return to in-person learning. In addition, officials in some school districts called on the Department to release guidance to specifically allow for all-remote learning for those students. The full guidance is available on the Department of Education’s “Restart and Recovery: The Road Back” webpage.

7/21/20 - Updated Quarantine Advisory Issued for Individuals Traveling to New Jersey from Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, and Wisconsin, Bringing Total to 31 States As of Tuesday, July 21, there are currently 31 states total that meet the criteria stated above: Alaska; Alabama; Arkansas; Arizona; California; Delaware; Florida; Georgia; Iowa; Idaho; Indiana; Kansas; Louisiana; Maryland; Missouri; Mississippi; Montana; North Carolina; North Dakota; Nebraska; New Mexico; Nevada; Ohio; Oklahoma; South Carolina; Tennessee; Texas; Utah; Virginia; Washington; and Wisconsin.
The list of states will be updated on a rolling basis and is accessible here.
Click here to read the full press release

7/14/20 - Updated Quarantine Advisory Issued for Individuals Traveling to New Jersey from Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, and Wisconsin, Bringing Total to 22 States. As of Tuesday, July 14, there are currently 22 states total that meet the criteria: Alabama; Arkansas; Arizona; California; Florida; Georgia; Iowa; Idaho; Kansas; Louisiana; Minnesota; Mississippi; North Carolina; New Mexico; Nevada; Ohio; Oklahoma; South Carolina; Tennessee; Texas; Utah; and Wisconsin.

The list of states will be updated on a rolling basis and is accessible here.
Click here to read the full press release

6/26/20 -MVC In-Person License and Vehicle Transactions Delayed to July 7th - Click here to read the MVC Press Release - Most of the in-person transactions scheduled to start on June 29th will be delayed until July 7th, while the text notification system undergoes final testing. They intend to rely on a new text notification system to check people in, then allow them to leave the building and go elsewhere. Without the text notification system, the number of people waiting for transactions who will need to be on-site will far exceed capacity limitations. Road testing and Inspection stations will still be fully operational on June 29th. During the month of July MVC will be CLOSED ON MONDAYS to allow for health & safety assessments of their facilities. Most licenses, IDs, registrations, and other documents scheduled to expire after March 13th have been extended to July 31st or later (more info at NJMVC.gov).

Starting July 7th, designated Licensing Centers will be processing new licenses and permits, out-of-state transfers, and REAL ID for those whose appointments were canceled. Designated Vehicle Centers will be adding individual registration and title transactions. Transactions that can be done online will not be available in person until further notice. MVC continues to urge customers to use NJMVC.gov to renew or replace licenses, renew or replace registrations, or change their address

6/5/20 - MVC Announces Plans to Reopen in Stages - In-Person Transactions Will be Limited; Customers are encouraged to use NJMVC.gov. The plan calls for some agencies to be designated as Licensing Centers and some as Vehicle Centers.
Drop-off and pick-up transactions will be processed starting June 15, but only the following:

At designated Licensing Centers, MVC will be processing and validating permits from driving schools and high schools on a drop-off basis.
At designated Vehicle Centers, MVC will be processing registration and title work from dealers.
MVC will also be processing registration/title transfers for private sales by a new combination online and mail-in procedure.

Customers will be able to sign up for this option at NJMVC.gov. More detail will be provided in the next few days.

Click here to read the full press release with more details

6/2/20 - Governor Murphy Announces New Jersey to Enter Stage Two of Restart and Recovery on June 15th - click here to read the press release with the outline plan for taking the state to Stage 2.

6/2/20 - MVC Agency, Inspection Station Closures Extended Until June 8 Headquarters, Online Services to Continue Operations - New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Chief Administrator Sue Fulton announced on May 22nd that all agency, road testing, and inspections facilities will remain closed until at least Monday, June 8. The closures are part of the Murphy Administration’s ongoing efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Click here to read the full press release

5/31/20 - Alcotest 7110 Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic - The NJ State Police issued recommendations for using the Alcotest 7110 During the COVID-19 outbreak, certified Alcotest 7110 operators should conduct breath tests according to their training, with the updated recommendations outlined in the bulletin. Click the above link to view the notice.

5/31/20 - Governor Murphy Announces that Modified In-Person Graduation Ceremonies Can Begin on July 6th - on 05/26/2020 Governor Murphy announced that the NJ Dept of Education and the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education will issue updated guidance allowing school districts and colleges/universities to hold modified in-person graduation ceremonies beginning on July 6th. The guidance will include requirements that ceremonies be held outdoors, adhere to social distancing protocols, and observe capacity restrictions in order to protect the health of students and families celebrating these milestones amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Click the above link to read the full press release.

5/31/20 - Office of the Secretary of Higher Education Releases Graduation Ceremony Guidance -On 05/27/2020 the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education published graduation guidance for institutions of higher education that outline considerations modified in-person graduation ceremonies beginning on July 6, 2020. The guidance includes requirements that ceremonies be held outdoors, adhere to social distancing protocols, and restrict the capacity to protect the health and safety of students and families celebrating these milestones amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Click the above link to read the full press release

5/16/20 - Delivery of Alcoholic Beverages Legislation Signed into Law
On May 15, 2020, Governor Murphy signed Assembly Bill A-3966 legislation into law. The new law authorizes the sale and delivery of alcoholic beverages by the holders of certain retail consumption licenses and concessionaire permits during the COVID-19 state of emergency.
Click here to read the full bill as signed into law

5/16/20 - - Update on Assembly Bill 4132 (this replaced Senate Bill S-2350)
This bill involves a plan to partially furlough state and local government workers. It was passed by both houses on May 14th.
The Bill is still on the Governor's desk for his action. During his Saturday Briefing (May 16th), the Governor mentioned that he and his staff are still researching the bill and has not taken any action on it yet.
Click here to read the bill as passed

5/13/20 - Governor Murphy Signed Executive Order No 142 - Permitting Resumption of Non-Essential Construction, Curbside Pickup at Non-Essential Retail Businesses, and Gatherings in Cars
As part of New Jersey’s Road Back, Executive Order No. 142 is permitting the resumption of non-essential construction, curbside pickup at non-essential retail businesses, and car gatherings for the purpose of drive-through and drive-in events. The order takes effect at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, May 18th, while the car gatherings provision will take effect immediately.

Non-Essential Construction: The Order permits non-essential construction projects to resume at 6:00 a.m. on May 18th. All construction projects must abide by the social distancing, safety, and sanitization requirements that are described in detail in the Governor’s Executive Order.

Curbside Pickup at Non-Essential Retail Businesses: curbside pickup of goods beginning at 6:00 a.m. on May 18th, but businesses must continue to have their in-store operations closed to customers. Businesses who choose to offer curbside pickup must abide by the requirements in the Order, which include but are not limited to the following:

In-store operations should be limited to those employees who are responsible for the operations required for curbside pickup;
Customer transactions should be handled in advance by phone, email, facsimile or other means that avoid person-to-person contact;
Customers shall notify the retailer by text message, email, or phone once they arrive, or make best efforts to schedule their arrival time in advance. The customer should be asked to remain in their vehicle if arriving by car until store staff delivers the purchase;
Designated employees should bring goods outside of the retail establishment and place goods directly in a customer’s vehicle when possible, avoiding person-to-person contact; and
Such businesses must follow social distancing and mitigation practices outlined in previous orders, including requiring workers to wear cloth face coverings when in contact with other workers or customers and gloves when in contact with goods or customers.

Car Gatherings: do not violate the Governor’s ban on gatherings under Executive Order No. 107. Examples of such car gatherings include but are not limited to drive-in movies, religious services, or drive-through farms or safaris. Car gatherings will be subject to the restrictions in the Order, which include but are not limited to the following:

Attendees must remain in their same car throughout the gathering unless
- 1) an occupant needs to get out of the vehicle for their health or safety or
- 2) an occupant needs to use the restroom;
The vehicle must remain closed at all times unless
- 1) there is six feet of distance between other vehicles or individuals or
- 2) an officer, public official, or guard requires the vehicle to open. There is a further exception allowing the opening of the vehicle if necessary for health or safety;
Individuals organizing the gathering who are not in vehicles must follow social distancing and wear cloth face coverings; and
To the degree that a gathering requires pre-payment, or seeks donations of any kind, contactless options for pre-payment or donation, such as online or by telephone, must be offered wherever feasible.

Retail businesses operating in shopping malls are permitted to operate by a curbside pickup, in accordance with the other requirements of this paragraph, but staff must bring the goods to customers at the exterior of the mall. The indoor portions of shopping malls must remain closed, as required by previous orders.
A copy of Executive Order No. 142 can be found here.

5/11/20 - LEL May Webinar -- Impaired Driving in a Post-COVID-19 World
Date: Thursday, May 21, 2020
Time: 2:00 PM EDT
Cost: Free
What happens when tens of millions of drivers return to the roadways after spending an extended period at home because of the coronavirus pandemic? This webinar will focus on providing the broader traffic safety community with tools they can use to help deter drunk and drugged driving as well as a discussion of what to expect as our country moves to a new normal.
Featured speakers include the following:
* Welcome from GHSA Chair Chuck DeWeese
* NHTSA Highway Safety Specialist Caroline Cash, who will share NHTSA's Impaired Driving Program Resources
* MADD National Law Enforcement Initiatives Manager Ron Replogle, who will discuss opportunities for SHSOs and others to partner with MADD
* GHSA Senior Director of External Engagement & Special Projects Pam Shadel Fischer, who will be presenting relevant recommendations from GHSA's "High-Risk Impaired Drivers: Combating a Critical Threat" report, which was created in partnership with Responsibility.org
* NHTSA Director of Consumer Information Susan McMeen, who will share NHTSA communication resources
Please join us this is a unique opportunity to hear the latest from a broad spectrum of traffic safety experts who will help give states and law enforcement the tools they need to deal with what could be a surge in impaired driving following the lifting of COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders.
Click here to register for this webinar

5/8/20 - Gov. Phil Murphy said he will be deploying 120 soldiers from the NJ National Guard to long-term care facilities, beginning this weekend.

5/8/20 - Bill S2350 - A plan to partially furlough state and local government workers cleared its first legislative hurdle in a Senate committee Thursday and is set to go before the full state Senate next week. Senate President Sweeney estimates New Jersey’s state, local, and county governments could save a total of $750 million in expanded unemployment benefits funded by the federal government. Click here to read more Click here to read S2350

Updated 5/8/20 - posted 5/4/20 - Lexipol Webinar - "Ask the Experts: COVID-19 Grant Funding for Public Safety"
If you weren't able to attend this webinar, you can listen to the recording and download the slides, just click the following link:

https://info.lexipol.com/covid19-grant-funding-for-public-safety
If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, email them to webinars@lexipol.com.

Date: Friday, May 8, 2020,  Time: 1:00 PM EDT, Cost: Free
More than 200 federal, state, and private sector grants have been announced to help public safety agencies and local government respond to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 outbreak—including an $850 million federal program from BJA and a $100 million AFG supplemental fire grant.  But the COVID-19 grants landscape is changing rapidly, and many agencies are struggling to keep up. We’ve compiled the most common COVID-19-related grants questions and in this session, grant experts Jerry Brant and Samantha Dorm will provide insight and recommendations to help agencies secure grants for COVID-19 response.
You’ll learn: * How to identify the COVID-19 grants most promising for your agency  * The difference between cost recovery funding and grants and when to pursue each  * Unique characteristics of some COVID-19 grant programs and how that changes your application approach

4/18/20 - Lexipol Law Enforcement Personal Protective Equipment Use Procedure Framework with Implementation Guidelines- Lexipol has provided this form free of cost. The purpose of this procedure is to provide a respiratory protection plan to protect the safety of members who may be exposed to respiratory hazards in the course of their duty assignments. Click here to download the guidelines.

4/18/20 - Vector Solutions Releases Complimentary Training for Law Enforcement Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic - TargetSolutions, a Vector Solutions brand providing the leading eLearning and operations management software for public safety agencies, is offering law enforcement personnel complimentary access to three of its online training courses to help prevent infection of the coronavirus:

4/17/20 - Some special resources from Lexipol & PoliceOne:

Visit Lexipol's Coronavirus Learning & Policy Center for free policies, online training, and analysis [RESOURCE CENTER]
Watch Gordon Graham and an expert panel discuss COVID-19 legal and operational considerations for law enforcement [ON-DEMAND WEBINAR]
Read 6 ways to use social media to connect with your community during stay-at-home orders [BLOG]
Read First responders, COVID-19 and stress: Tips for finding peace [BLOG]
Stay up to date with COVID-19 coverage from PoliceOne [SPECIAL COVERAGE]

First Responders, Stress Management & Coronavirus [ON-DEMAND WEBINAR]

4/15/20 - CORONAVIRUS and SAFETY, WHAT EVERY COP NEEDS TO KNOW - In the Line of Duty is very pleased to bring you this free 40-minute training program. Click here to view the video. It features Dr. Andrew Dennis, a nationally-prominent trauma surgeon, and a full-time cop. Dr. Dennis has many suggestions and thoughts for officer safety and well-being during these chaotic times.

4/15/20 - NJPBA Teams up for First Responders COVID-19 Testing Center - The NJ State Policemen's Benevolent Association, Hackensack Meridian Health, and American Dream are partnering to open a drive-thru, appointment only testing site for first responders and frontline health care workers at the American Dream mall in the Meadowlands. Those who qualify can make an appointment at njpba.adlabscovidtest.com

4/15/20 - NEW JERSEY COVID-19 Information Hub - Just in case you are not aware, the State of New Jersey has set up a one-stop website for all information related to the COVID-19 outbreak. This is for both the general public and government employees. There is a spot where you can ask your COVID-19 questions. The COVID-19 NJ Data Dashboard is there. This is also the spot where volunteers can sign up to help during the crisis.

Here are the information phone numbers:

Call (General COVID-19 Questions): 2-1-1 (24/7)
Call (Medical COVID-19 Questions): 1-800-962-1253 (24/7)
Text NJCOVID to 898-211 to receive alerts

4/14/20 - Although not COVID-19 related - Critical vehicle safety recall information - 2020 Ford Expedition

Ford Motor Co. has announced a recall of approximately 55,000 vehicles, including 2020 Ford Expedition police package vehicles for a defect that poses a significant risk to your safety. CLICK HERE to use NHTSA’s VIN Lookup Tool to see if your vehicles are affected by this recall. These vehicles may have a safety defect with the transmission shift cable lock clip, which can allow the transmission to be in a different gear than selected by the driver. This inaccurate gear position display could cause unintended vehicle movement, increasing the risk of injury or a crash. Ford will contact affected owners to take their vehicle to their nearest Ford dealership to schedule a FREE repair. As always, NHTSA encourages all officers and their departments to report any safety concerns to the agency online or by calling our Vehicle Safety Hotline 1-888-327-4236

4/13/20 - Effectiveness of Homemade Fabric Masks to Protect Others from Spread of COVID-19 Examined by the New Rapid Response to Government a part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine - Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases

4/13/20 - Exploring the Science of Social Distancing and What it Means for Everyday Life from the National Academy of Medicine and the American Public Health Association

4/13/20 - Potential Effects of Seasonal and Temperature Changes on Spread of COVID-19 Examined in New Rapid Response to Government from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine - Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases

4/11/20 - Driver COVID-19 resource page for First Responders and fleets - Click here to go to eDriver's COVID-19 Resource Page

4/10/20 - Lexipol's free Lexipol Coronavirus Learning & Policy Center

The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for law enforcement agencies, from questions around enforcing stay-at-home orders to how to protect officers from exposure. In this recording, an expert panel tackles these issues and legal, operational issues arising out of the

COVID-19 crisis.

Factors to consider under the scope of authority/responsibility for enforcing shelter-at-home or quarantine orders
How and why officers should be documenting potential exposures
Training and policy changes agencies should consider in light of the coronavirus

Visit Lexipol's free Lexipol Coronavirus Learning & Policy Center for additional resources.

4/10/20 - COVID-19 for Law Enforcement - PoliceOne is making available for free this important COVID-19 course training you on how to keep yourself,

your loved ones, and others in your department safe during these unprecedented times.
The COVID-19 for Law Enforcement course will teach you to:

Understand how COVID-19 can be transmitted during LE activities.
Protect yourself and your family from potential exposure.
Help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in your department and in society at large.

Click here to read more and register for the course.

4/8/20 - From the CDC

How to Properly Put on and Take off a Disposable Respirator

NOTE - WASH YOUR HANDS THOROUGHLY BEFORE PUTTING ON AND TAKING OFF THE RESPIRATOR.

Decontamination and Reuse of Filtering Facepiece Respirators

Interim Guidance for Emergency Medical Services Systems and 911 Public Safety Answering Points for COVID-19

4/8/20 -IACP COVID 19 Info page IACP searchable database

4/8/20 - National Sheriffs Association COVID 19 Resource page

4/7/20 - The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S Department of Health and Human Services issued COVID-19 and HIPAA: Disclosures to Law Enforcement, Paramedics, Other First Responders, and Public Health Authorities. The guidance explains the circumstances under which a covered entity may disclose PHI such as the name or other identifying information about individuals, without their HIPAA authorization, and provides examples including:

When needed to provide treatment;
When required by law;
When first responders may be at risk for infection; and
When disclosure is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat.

This guidance clarifies the regulatory permissions that covered entities may use to disclose PHI to first responders and others so they can take extra precautions or use personal protective equipment. The guidance also includes a reminder that generally, covered entities must make reasonable efforts to limit the PHI used or disclosed to that which is the "minimum necessary" to accomplish the purpose for the disclosure.

Click here to read the routefifty.com article States Share Covid-19 Patient Addresses with First Responders

4/4/20 - Free Training Resources: The COVID-19 pandemic has limited training activities. Here are some education and training resources that provide fire and rescue professionals essential information that supports ongoing professional development and enhances training efforts:
National Fire Academy Online Courses
Emergency Management Institute Online Courses
Fire Service Online & Classroom Training - Everyone Goes Home
Vision 20/20
NFPA - Training and Certification
EMS One
Free Online Training - My Firefighter Nation
Fire Rescue 1
Firefighter Training & Education Resources - Fire Engineering
Bound Tree Online University - EMS Training/CEUs
Fire Prevention Plan OSHAcademy free online training

4/4/20 - CRR Radio COVID-19 Series - CRR Radio is producing a series of episodes relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each of these will feature conversations with officers from fire departments that are on the front lines of providing protection to their communities during this national disaster

4/1/20 - CISA division of Dept of Homeland Security - Listing of Critical Workers and Identification of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers memos, original memo issued March 9th advisory memo issued on March 28th.

4/1/20 - FEMA COVID-19 Advisory - Issued on March 30th.

4/1/20 - FBI COVID-19 website Vigilance During COVID-19 Pandemic

4/1/20 - The Department of Justice announced that it is making $850 million available nationwide to help public safety agencies respond to the challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19, $6 Million is available to New Jersey Counties and Municipalities. The Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by the recent stimulus legislation signed by President Trump, will allow eligible state and local governments to apply immediately for these critical funds. The department is moving quickly to make awards, with the goal of having funds available for drawdown within days.

4/1/20 - The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, part of the US Dept of Justice, formed a Collaborative Reform Initiative for Technical Assistance Center (CRI-TAC). Led by the IACP and nine law enforcement associations (FOP, FBINAA, IACLEA, IADLEST, MCCA, NOBLE, NAWLEE, NSA, and NTOA) with the CDC, recently launched the COVID-19 Library of Resources. This directory is a searchable library of agency policies, standard operating procedures, fact sheets, press releases, special orders, training documents, and other COVID-19–related materials. You can also submit a resource to share via the site. What law enforcement personnel need to know about COVID-19 is an information sheet explaining the site. They have also developed interim guidelines for correctional and detention facilities. If you have a direct technical assistance need as a result of COVID-19, reach out toCRI-TAC they can offer short-term, remote technical assistance for agencies that need expert assistance from others in the field.

To learn more aboutCRI-TAC view their video

3/31/20 - The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has created a COVID-19 resource page for first responders.

3/31/20 - From the NJ League of Municipalities - the National League of Cities (NLC) has scheduled webinars for April 1st & 2nd to help local officials dealing with different COVID-19 challenges. Click here to read more and register.

3/31/20 - US Attorney Matthew Schneider Provides Coronavirus Prosecution Guide to State and Local Law Enforcement

3/30/20 - BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE - Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program. This program is will provide funding to assist eligible states, local units of government, and tribes in preventing, preparing for, and responding to the coronavirus. Applications Due: May 29, 2020.

The DEA published a COVID-19 Information Page on the Diversion Control Divisions Web Site. This page contains important guidance concerning COVID-19 and the national drug supply, electronic prescribing of controlled substances, telemedicine, medicated assisted treatment, quota, contact information, and other important federal and state information. It will be updated frequently so check back for further information.

ILEETA has established a COVID19 Resource Page for police at https://ileeta.org/covid19-trainers-resources/.

Louisiana State University – National Center for Biomedical Research and Training offers an 18-minute training video and a job aid – COVID-19 Roll Call Training Request Form. For more information, go to: www.ncbrt.lsu.edu

Visit https://covid19.nj.gov/ to learn more about COVID-19 in New Jersey.

New Jersey residents may call 211 with questions or concerns about COVID-19, and to learn resources available to them.

Residents may also text NJCOVID to 898-211 to subscribe to text message updates on NJ COVID-19.

The State Division of Fire Safety has issued operational guidance for local enforcing agencies, providing them with information and suggestions and how fire code enforcement operations should proceed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

NJ League of Municipalities presented a free webinar which provided an overview of Governor Murphy’s Executive Order, recently enacted State laws in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, legislation under consideration, Administrative Orders, and Attorney General directive and a summary of the Federal CARES act. It is available both in PowerPoint format as well as a PDF document. Please use this presentation, which includes links to the source materials, as a reference document.

COVID-19 Briefing for Law Enforcement Webinar – On March 19th the National Police Foundation, Major Cities Chiefs Association, and the Police Executive Research Forum hosted a webinar for law enforcement, click here to watch the recording of the webinar

The IAFC Fire and EMS Personnel Survey and Dashboard, the IAFC and partner Esri allow Fire agencies to report on the impacts to the personnel they are seeing as they respond to COVID-19 events. The survey and accompanying dashboard provide a view as to what, where, and who is being impacted. More than 2,000 fire personnel have been quarantined.

IAFC Fire and EMS Force Protection PPE Survey and Dashboard: The IAFC Fire and EMS Force Protection PPE Survey and accompanying dashboard are designed to gauge the impacts that COVID-19 is having on fire and EMS PPE supply chains. The IAFC is asking fire departments to fill out the survey every couple of days to update their needs.

The CDC also released a new tool last week that assists agencies in calculating PPE needs. The tool can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/burn-calculator.html

FBI National Academy Associates, Inc has set up a COVID-19 resource website for law enforcement https://www.fbinaa.org/FBINAA/FBINAA/COVID-19.aspx

NHTSA has a website dedicated to Police and EMS dealing with COVID-19

https://www.ems.gov/projects/coronavirus_covid-19_resources.html

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has launched a website with important educational resources for Coronavirus workers dealing with the spread ofCOVID-19.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has set up a website to help Law Enforcement, click the links below for more information:
What Law Enforcement Personnel Need to Know about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Interim Guidance for Emergency Medical Services and 911 Public Safety Answering Points for COVID-19 in the United States
Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations
Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers

The New Jersey State League of Municipalities has set up a special webpage to help municipalities and government employees deal with the Coronavirus / COVID-19 outbreak. There is a wealth of information and resource links throughout the page. Click here to go to the website.

The National Police Foundation's COVID-19 Resources page https://www.policefoundation.org/covid-19/

FEMA is offering grants to reimburse agencies for extraordinary expenses associated with their response to the COVID-19 Emergency:
FEMA Public Assistance Grant Program
FEMA Eligible Emergency Protective Measures Fact Sheet
FEMA COVID Advisory March 21st

The CISA division of Department of Homeland Security has issued a Listing of Critical Workers as a reference for Law enforcement.
MEMORANDUM ON IDENTIFICATION OF ESSENTIAL CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WORKERS DURING COVID-19 RESPONSE

Lexipol & PoliceOne are offering free online COVID-19 training for Law Enforcement https://www.lexipol.com/coronavirus/

Coronavirus and the Importance of Infection Control Plans for Public Safety Agencies courtesy Lexipol & PoliceOne

Coronavirus considerations for law enforcement courtesy Lexipol & PoliceOne

Social Distancing to Control COVID-19 Spread: Actions Items for Public Safety courtesy Lexipol & PoliceOne

Today's Tip featuring Gordon Graham: Pandemic Ready courtesy Lexipol

Stay up to date on how COVID-19 is affecting the fire service with PoliceOne's Coronavirus (COVID-19) resources page: Click here

CVSA Offers Coronavirus Guidance to Roadside Inspectors click here to read more

J. Harris Roll Call Training Segment: Self-Quarantine
A brief Roll Call Training Video designed to spark discussions within your agency on the self-quarantine procedures for employees who may have been exposed to the virus both on and off duty. This video is for information only and any/all policy and procedure must be developed by your agency in conjunction with local health officials.