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Council introduces police‑department ordinance and councilmembers describe new traffic‑data tool to target speeding
Summary
Council introduced ordinance 69‑48 to set the structure of the City of Linden Police Department under NJSA 48:14‑118 and discussed new data tools and enforcement measures — including a third‑party traffic‑data program — to identify speeding and congestion hot spots.
LINDEN — The Linden City Council introduced ordinance 69‑48, which updates the municipal code language on the Department of Police and lists authorized positions; the text read into the record cites state statute NJSA 48:14‑118 for appointment and supervision of the police chief. The council also discussed a new traffic‑data tool that uses third‑party app information to pinpoint congestion and speeding hot spots and plan enforcement.
Council members said the ordinance will return for a public hearing and final vote at a later meeting. The ordinance as read includes a list of sworn and civilian positions and states "the department shall be under the day to day supervision and control of the chief pursuant to NJSA 48:14‑118 and shall be appointed by the mayor." The council voted to introduce the ordinance and set it for future hearing.
Why it matters: the ordinance formalizes the department structure in municipal code and the traffic‑data tool could change how the city allocates traffic enforcement resources. Council members emphasized that the tool will supplement, not replace, traditional traffic studies and accident reviews.
Traffic enforcement and data: Councilwoman Orman, who chairs the Accident Review Committee, described a pilot program the police will use that ingests anonymized third‑party app and satellite data to measure average speeds and congestion on small sections of city streets. "We saw that while people are complaining that there's so much speeding on this particular block, that 85% of the people are going 19 miles per hour," Orman said, explaining the tool helps distinguish occasional speeders from locations with a persistent speeding problem.
Orman said officers are being trained to run the system and that within about 30 days the city expects routine use to guide enforcement and 4‑way stop recommendations. "This tool is going to enable us to really allocate our police force to sit back and monitor those areas," she said.
Ordinances and enforcement changes: In related business the council adopted several traffic ordinances on the consent agenda — including changes to pick‑up/drop‑off zones and handicap parking — and tabled others requiring further review. The council also introduced Ordinance 69‑46, which adds an enforcement provision making the Board of Health and Police Department responsible for enforcing peddling and soliciting rules.
Community reaction and next steps: Resident speakers and council members welcomed the additional technology while emphasizing privacy and legal limits. A resident noted license plate readers and other enforcement tools were already being deployed; the council and administration said any new technology use will follow applicable law and procurement procedures. The introduced police department ordinance references state statute and will be scheduled for a future hearing where the public can comment before final adoption.
Formal action: Ordinance 69‑48 was introduced; the council recorded a motion and second to introduce the ordinance and will hold a public hearing before final adoption. Multiple traffic ordinances were adopted or tabled during the same meeting as part of routine ordinance business.
