TRENTON – Aiming to better fund pedestrian safety efforts and reduce traffic-related injuries and fatalities, Senator Troy Singleton introduced legislation this week that would reallocate fines that are issued for violations of “Antwan’s Law” to be entirely dedicated to Burlington City for the specific and sole purposes of pedestrian safety and law enforcement.

The legislation is inspired by continued incidents of motor vehicle accidents near Burlington City High School, including repeated collisions with pedestrians. On the morning of October 7th a crossing guard was hit and injured by a vehicle while on the sidewalk. This follows the tragic passing of 74-year-old crossing guard Bruce Morlack in December 2024, when he was hit by a car while preventing two students from being injured during a crossing. Additionally, two Burlington City School District students have lost their lives, and two others were seriously injured, in separate pedestrian accidents since 2004.

“The accident earlier this month and the heartbreaking deaths and injuries over the past two decades highlight what local police and data have told us for years – more must be done to make this area safer for pedestrians, school staff, crossing guards, and especially our children,” said Senator Singleton (D-Burlington).

After years of advocacy work from local students, initial support from then-Senator Diane Allen, as well as later sponsorship from Senator Singleton, “Antwan’s Law” was enacted in 2018. The law, named for Antwan Timbers Jr., a 17-year-old student at Burlington City High School who was hit and killed walking alongside Route 130 by a drunk driver in 2016, establishes reduced speed limits and heightened fines for violations along certain corridors in Burlington City.

Despite the enactment of “Antwan’s Law” and reduced speed limits, motor vehicle accidents and aggressive driving along these roadways have remained prevalent, especially as New Jersey and much of the nation have observed rising rates of distracted driving, speeding, and pedestrian fatalities that has left local law enforcement stretched thin. The bill, S-4735, would dedicate all of the fines imposed pursuant to “Antwan’s Law” to the municipal treasury of the municipality in which the offense takes place to be used solely for pedestrian safety and law enforcement purposes.

“Years of research and examples from other cities have shown that the best interventions to improve roadway safety are with infrastructure improvements and effective enforcement of traffic laws, which both require resources that, right now, are lacking,” continued Singleton. “This bill will help ensure that both Burlington City and the local law enforcement have the funds they need to better protect pedestrians and motorists alike.”

“Every parent deserves the peace of mind that comes with knowing their child can walk to and from school safely, just as every resident deserves to be able to traverse their neighborhood free from the fear that an accident could occur,” said Assemblywoman Carol Murphy, who is sponsoring the Assembly counterpart. “This legislation does so much for our communities, not just by investing in the safety of our streets, but by doing so in a way that honors those we’ve lost. My heart is with all of the families who have lost a friend or a loved one to these preventable tragedies.”

Under current law, the proceeds from fines are generally split between county and municipal financial officers. 50 percent goes to the municipal financial officer, to be used for general municipal purposes and the costs of operating the municipal court, while the other 50 percent goes to the county to be used as a fund for constructing, reconstructing, maintaining, and repairing roads or bridges, removing snow, and other roadway projects.

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