Hoboken Pedestrian Safety Initiative Yields Two-Dozen Infractions, One Arrest—All in One Day

Friday, December 13 proved to be an unlucky day for a number of allegedly negligent drivers, as their violations were caught by the Hoboken Police Traffic Unit, who were conducting the first of two publicly announced Holiday Pedestrian Decoy Traffic Initiatives. Twenty-four violations were handed out, while one driver was arrested after officers spotted a marijuana cigarette in his console.

The initiative is part of Hoboken’s Vision Zero Campaign. In an effort to gauge the relative level of safety on Hoboken’s streets, an officer dressed in plain clothes crosses the road at a number of locations, within the crosswalk, while other officers observe for violations.

Locations chosen were those which received the most complaints through the HPD’s traffic@hobokenpd.org email address.

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Hoboken PD originally planned to cover six locations, but the volume of violations restricted the unit to just three locations.

Sergeant Edward Sellick, Sergeant Francisco Rosa, Officer Christopher Hatfield, Officer Tyrone Huggins, Officer Armando Caraballo, Officer Nicholas DeTrizio, and Officer Dylan Archilla participated in the initiative—which focused on vehicle operators.

Future initiatives will focus on pedestrian violations.

photo via City of Hoboken

Here’s a look at what they saw…

8th and Madison Street:

• 1 Disregard stop sign
• 8 Failure to stop for pedestrian
• 2 Other motor vehicles infractions
• 0 Warnings

Newark and Adams Street:

• 6 Failure to stop for pedestrian
• 1 Cell phone
• 2 Other motor vehicle violations
• 1 arrest – possession of CDS in a vehicle
• 0 Warnings

4th and River Street:

• 2 disregard traffic signal
• 1 Failure to Stop for pedestrian
• 2 Other motor vehicle violations
• 0 Warnings issued

Regarding the arrest:

Arrestee: John Cuevas 56 from Jersey City, NJ

Charges: Possession of CDS Marijuana and two motor vehicle summons for Possession of CDS in a motor vehicle and Use of Cell Phone in a Motor Vehicle.

Arrest Date: Friday, December 13, 2019.

Officer Involved: P.O. Christopher Hatfield and P.O. Joseph DiMartino

Incident Detail: During the pedestrian decoy, on Friday, December 13, 2019, at about 10:50AM, Officer Hatfield conducted a Motor Vehicle stop in the area of Newark and Adams Street. Officer Hatfield observed the driver using his cell phone while operating a motor vehicle. Upon approaching the driver (John Cuevas), Officer Hatfield smelled the odor of marijuana emanating from the passenger compartment. Moments later Sergeant Edward Sellick, Officer Dylan Archilla and Officer Joseph DiMartino arrived as back up. A marijuana cigarette was discovered in the center console. Cuevas was placed under arrest and was transported to police headquarters by Officer Joseph DiMartino and Christopher Hatfield. Both officers processed Cuevas and he was released on a summons.

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