FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 20, 2001
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

       Woodbridge, NJ - 8/20 - The Garden State Parkway will become the first of New Jersey's toll roads to employ the new laser speed enforcement system, it was announced today by New Jersey Highway Authority Chairman Joseph E. Buckelew.

        The Highway Authority operates the 173-mile Parkway and owns the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel.

       The new laser units operate by sending out a very narrow beam of light pulses which make is easy to zero in on one vehicle in a group of moving vehicles. The light pulses measure the distance to the target vehicle, calculating the speed by how fast the pulses are reflected back. Additionally, these new laser units take less time to make a reading --- one-third of a second --- compared to three to five seconds for conventional radar.

        Because of the narrowness of the beam, the light pulses from laser speed measuring devices are extremely difficult to pick up by most of the radar detectors currently on the market.

        "The Highway Authority continues its dedication in keeping the Parkway one of America's safest roads by now equipping our state troopers with LTI 20-20 Marksman Laser Speed Detectors," said Chairman Buckelew. "With these state-of-the-art detectors, troopers will be able to pinpoint speeders on the Parkway with greater accuracy and apprehend them faster and more efficiently."

       On August 23, 2001, Highway Authority will authorize the purchase of 24 LTI 20-20 Marksman Laser Speed Detection Systems at the cost of $95,880. The units are manufactured by Laser Technology of Englewood, Colorado.

       State Police Troop E, who patrol the Parkway, have been testing the new laser technology on the Parkway for some time prior to the planned purchase of the new units. Approximately 30 summonses for speeding, based on use of the laser detectors, have already been written. With the arrival of these new units, laser detectors will become commonplace all along the Parkway.

       "Law enforcement continues to look at new technologies to help us keep roadway environments safe for everyone who uses them," said Lieutenant Colonel Lee Cartwright, Deputy Superintendent - Operations, New Jersey State Police. "With laser detectors, we will begin to write the next chapter in speed enforcement on the Garden State Parkway."

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