Shortcuts could become expensive for Vernon drivers

VERNON-In today's world, everybody is looking for shortcuts. Unfortunately, for drivers this can mean cutting through residential neighborhoods at highway speeds. In Vernon, help may be on the way in the form of the township's first full-time traffic-safety officer, Ptl. Jason Hall. "Up to this point, it was difficult to spend more than an hour at any particular problem area because I would have to do it in between service calls," he said of previous efforts by police to address traffic problems. "Now I can devote my entire time to traffic issues." This is particularly good news to residents of the Old Orchard development off Route 565, particularly those living along Eric Trail, who are tired of their residential street being treated as if it were a main highway. Eric Trail which runs the length of the development is used as a "shortcut" by those going from Route 565 to Lake Pochung Road or visa versa. Its speed limit of 25 m.p.h. may as well be an imaginary number for those trying to cut a few minutes off their commutes, residents say. "Give us a break," said one Old Orchard woman who did not want to be identified. "Now that spring is here, on any given day there are countless people jogging, walking, pushing strollers, kids riding their bikes, skateboards or scooters on this road, and just as many drivers speeding past them seemingly unaware of the danger they pose," she said. "I urge the people who are driving through our streets and the residents of Old Orchard alike to examine their conscience and make a concerted effort to put the safety and well-being of the residents before their need to save themselves a few minutes off their travel time." Last August, the woman said that she saw workmen she believed to be from the Vernon Roads Department putting down car counters on two different sections of Eric Trail. When she asked what they were for, she was told that they measured the speed of the cars that go by together with other data. When she contacted the Vernon Police Department to see if she could access this data, she was told that they did not know anything about them. "This was news to me because these car counters were not installed by us," said Hall. "It would be great if I could access that data, but we just don't have any idea who would have put those counters down." The Road department in Vernon and the Sussex County Department of Roads in Newton both said through spokespersons that they would have no reason to monitor a township road. Usually, the only reason that a township road as apposed to a county route or state highway would be monitored would be if a developer was ordered to by the planning and zoning department of a town. The Vernon Department of Planning and Zoning was not available for comment on this issue. Regardless of who was counting traffic, Hall said he will be measuring their speed. And those who get caught will find it an expensive lesson. "Some people learn everything the hard way, and actually the speeding ticket is nothing compared to the increase in insurance cost. That's where the effect is," said Hall. "Depending on the speed you are going over the speed limit, which in a residential area is 25 m.p.h., you could be looking at up to five points on your license. That is determined by the Department of Motor Vehicles, not by the police department."