Yes, the State of New Jersey has a system capable of tracking the complete “life cycle�? of a traffic citation from its printing and distribution to an officer, to its issuance to an offender, to its disposition, and to its placement on the driver history file where appropriate.
Tracking for DWI arrests go even further, following the process through incarceration, treatment, and other court ordered sanctions. The system is referred to as the ATS/ACS system (Automated Traffic System/Automated Complaint System).
Does the state have a uniform citation form?
Yes, the New Jersey Uniform Traffic Ticket (NJUTT). Oversight for the citation's design and content is the responsibility of the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC).
Does the state have an electronic citation data collection system?
Yes. As of February 2012, more than 80 local police departments and the New Jersey State
Police were using "e-Ticketing" to electronically submit their traffic tickets. New Jersey
also had twenty-four municipalities participating in the "Red Light Camera" program and 36
different municipal parking authorities participate in the PATS Program (Parking Authority
Ticketing System). This latter program enables parking officers to electronically file
parking violations. Note: New Jersey also utilizes the e-CDR application to allow law
enforcement officers to electronically file criminal complaints
What percent of citations are collected electronically?
Statewide, approximately 45% of all parking and traffic violations are filed electronically,
through either the e-Ticketing, Red Light Camera or PATS applications.
Does the state have standardized coding of violations?
Yes
Does the state have a process/system for transferring citation data to the courts electronically?
The ATS/ACS system is used by every municipal court. All data, upon entry, is immediately available
for viewing by any other court or participating law enforcement entity. All data are entered locally,
but are maintained centrally through systems overseen by the Administrative Office of the Courts.
Does the state have a centralized court information system containing court docket information?
All traffic tickets are submitted to the Automated Traffic, Automated Complaint System (ATS/ACS).
As indicated in response #1, the ATS/ACS system is used to track the life of each ticket, which includes
scheduling the matter for court.
Does the state have a process/system to electronically transfer court dispositions to/from the driver history file electronically?
Yes; the AOC submits daily reports (Monday through Friday) to the Motor Vehicle Commission on reportable traffic violations
that resulted in a conviction.
Does the state have an impaired driver tracking system?
Information on DWI violations are stored in the ATS/ACS system. General conviction
information is also provided daily to MVC through the transfer referenced in response #8.
There is no separate database to track DWI offenders.
Are there any plans to improve the citation/adjudication system?
The New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts is constantly looking for ways to
better serve our Municipal Courts. Significant resources are currently being focused on
our electronic filing programs, including increasing the use of our e-Ticketing, PATS and
other electronic applications. New Jersey is also in the forefront for enabling defendants
to pay traffic and parking fines on-line, through our NJMCdirect on-line payment program.
In New Jersey, approximately half of all traffic/parking matters for which a defendant is
not required to appear in court are paid through this state administered website. When
combined with our electronic filing applications, this results in a high percentage of
all tickets being handled electronically, start to finish.