Hawthorne council introduces 4-ton street limits and standardizes fines to $54

The Hawthorne Borough Council introduced two traffic ordinances on July 9 that would broaden weight limits on local roads and standardize penalties for traffic and parking violations.

Mayor Lane told the council the administration will introduce ordinance 2371-25 to expand the town's list of streets subject to a 4-ton weight limit and to amend the overweight-vehicle definition to capture both gross vehicle weight and registered gross vehicle weight. "Tonight we are introducing an ordinance to limit the weight on numerous roads in the town," Lane said, framing the change as a response to repeated truck incursions on residential streets.

Special counsel Michael Pasqual explained ordinance 2372-25, which would set fixed fines for many existing violations so summonses can be paid at the window rather than requiring a court appearance. Pasqual said the proposal aims to reduce court load and give residents a straightforward payment option. Under the draft, most parking fines would be set at $54, a number chosen so the borough retains approximately $35 after the state's share.

Council members pressed for clarity on enforcement and exceptions. One council member asked whether service calls or deliveries would be blocked by the new limits; Pasqual and staff said the ordinance is intended to stop cut-through commercial traffic, not prevent legitimate deliveries or residents' service vehicles. "If you have a bill of lading showing a delivery to a house on that street, you're permitted," a borough official said.

Both ordinances passed introduction (first reading) and were scheduled for final passage at the borough meeting on Aug. 13, 2025. At introduction the council recorded unanimous support for the ordinances on first reading; the administration said specific enforcement protocols and exceptions would be clarified before final adoption.

The council also discussed enforcement data: Mayor Lane noted a recent mobilization that produced multiple overweight summonses on Fair View Avenue and other locations, and said officials will deploy signage and variable-message boards as immediate measures.

The ordinances will return to the council for final action on Aug. 13, at which time residents will have another opportunity to comment at the public hearing.