The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, in coordination with multiple municipal police departments and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, announced plans to launch a high-visibility traffic enforcement initiative aimed at reducing traffic-related fatalities across the region.
The initiative, known as Goal: Zero, brings together law enforcement agencies from Berkeley Township, Seaside Park, Seaside Heights, Toms River, Lavallette, Brick Township, Mantoloking, Bay Head, Point Pleasant Borough, Point Pleasant Beach, Stafford Township, Harvey Cedars, and Long Beach Township. The effort is being coordinated by Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy, along with the chiefs of the respective local police departments.
Goal: Zero is being launched in response to a sharp rise in motor vehicle fatalities across New Jersey. As of May 24, 2025, a total of 203 people have died in roadway incidents statewide, with 23 of those fatalities occurring in Ocean County alone.
“Every life lost on our roads represents someone’s family, friend, or neighbor,” Prosecutor Billhimer said in a statement. “This enforcement effort is about protecting our community and ensuring that everyone gets home safely.”
The first coordinated operation under Goal: Zero is scheduled for Thursday, May 29, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and will focus on State Highway 35 and State Highway 72/Long Beach Boulevard. These operations will continue on the last Thursday of each month through September, focusing on areas with high traffic volume and known safety concerns.
Goal: Zero began in 2024 as an initiative led by Holmdel Township Patrolman Matt Menosky. That campaign brought together 36 municipalities in a shared mission to target hazardous driving behaviors. The campaign’s branding features a bright green logo, the official color for pedestrian and school safety, paired with a black mourning band in memory of those lost in preventable traffic incidents.
Officials hope the combined visibility and enforcement presence will serve as both a deterrent and a reminder for drivers to prioritize safety on the road.
