The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office will join police departments across the county in a coordinated traffic enforcement operation aimed at reducing roadway fatalities, Prosecutor Brad Billhimer announced this week.
The initiative is part of the statewide Goal: Zero campaign, which focuses on preventing deaths and serious injuries caused by dangerous driving behaviors. As of November 18, 505 people have been killed on New Jersey roads, including 52 in Ocean County, according to state data.
This year’s enforcement effort is being held in memory of Ocean Gate Police Officer Jason “Jay” Marles, who was struck and killed by a drunk driver in 2010 after completing a drunk-driving detail on Thanksgiving Eve.
The county-wide operation will take place on Wednesday, November 26, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Billhimer said officers will be stationed at strategic locations to target impaired driving, distracted driving, and other hazardous conduct. “Thanksgiving Eve historically sees a spike in impaired driving, aggressive driving, and crash-related injuries,” he noted, adding that the goal is “zero fatalities, zero serious injuries, and zero impaired drivers on our roadways.”
The Goal: Zero initiative began in 2024, led by Holmdel Township Patrolman Matt Menosky, with participation from 36 municipalities. Its green-and-black logo represents visibility and school and pedestrian safety, with a black mourning bar symbolizing lives lost in traffic crashes.