NJ police officer spotted trashing ticket books

A uniformed New Jersey police officer was cited for trashing two traffic-tickets books, and is now under investigation.

New Brunswick police department patch (NBPD)

A New Brunswick Today editor witnessed a police officer - currently unnamed - allegedly disposing of two traffic-ticket books while cleaning out the trunk of his car. One of the books held records of two parking tickets that were never filed in court. The incident happened near Old Man Rafferty's bar and restaurant on Albany Street on June 27.

New Brunswick Today reporter Charlie Kratovil wrote “Shortly after 5 p.m., the officer disposed of what appeared to be the two ticket books in a city garbage can." The editor was close by and was able to retrieve the booklets from the trash.

New Brunswick city spokeswomen Jennifer Bradshaw reported to NJ.com that “It is a violation to throw traffic tickets away," and said, “Internal affairs is looking at it to determine how they (the traffic booklets) ended up in the garbage."

The tickets were brought to NBPD city council meeting where Capt. JT Miller took the booklets from the editor and noted that he would discipline the officer(s) involved. Kratovil said the tickets that weren't yet submitted were signed by officer No. 7297, but the books belonged to officer No. 7252.

New Brunswick Today reports the book also included 23 tickets issued for parking, including parking too close to crosswalks, stop signs and hydrants. In addition, records concluded tickets were issued for three illegal window tints, two careless driving incidents, two drivers spotted running red lights, two using their cell phone while driving, an unregistered vehicle, tailgating and one broken tail light.