Twelve months. One operational format.

JAN

16

Friday, January 16, 2026

3:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Holiday Travel Saturation

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Weekend Kickoff

This long weekend typically produces dense travel patterns and increased highway congestion as motorists take short winter trips at the start of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend.

Focus

Speed, aggressive driving, and occupant protection on the opening hours of a high-volume holiday travel period.

Why this date

Holiday weekends generate predictable spikes in volume and risk. A concentrated Friday afternoon/evening detail intercepts the first wave of departing traffic when congestion, impatience, and impaired driving begin to rise.

On the road

Prioritize major highways, interchanges, and known bottleneck corridors. Pair enforcement with a visible arrive-alive message for weekend travelers.

FEB

23

Monday, February 23, 2026

3:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Impaired & Distracted Driving Detail

Tribute: Tim and Bridget O'Donnell

Honoring Tim O'Donnell and Bridget O'Donnell

Tim and his 5-year-old daughter Bridget were killed by an intoxicated driver in a crash on the New Jersey Turnpike on Monday, February 22, 2016. Pam O'Donnell, wife and mother of the victims, has become a powerhouse in the traffic safety community. Her work with the Catch You Later Foundation has been instrumental in putting a human face on the consequences of impaired and distracted driving in New Jersey.

Focus

Impaired driving, distracted driving, and high-visibility presence that honors the O'Donnell family and the Catch You Later Foundation.

Why this date

Scheduling this tribute on a Monday afternoon/evening near the anniversary date keeps the human cost of impaired driving in front of both officers and the public at the start of the work week, when commuting volumes are high.

On the road

Share the family's story internally before the detail so officers understand why this date matters. Emphasize both DUI and handheld-device enforcement.

MAR

10

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

7:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Morning Commute / Fatigue & Lighting Detail

Spring Forward — Tribute: John "Jack" Misdom

Honoring John "Jack" Misdom

Jack was 16 years old when he was struck and killed by an impaired driver while walking along Highway 36 in Middletown. He died on Friday, February 7, 1992, around 7:20 p.m. The family fully supports keeping Jack's name alive in Goal Zero efforts. This date was chosen because the daylight-saving time shift occurred on March 8, 2026 (Jack's birthday), causing a lost hour of sleep.

Focus

Morning-commute enforcement addressing driver fatigue, speed, and failure to yield to pedestrians after the spring-forward time change.

Why this date

The loss of an hour of sleep, combined with adjusted lighting conditions, historically produces a spike in morning-commute incidents. Honoring Jack on this morning connects a pedestrian fatality to the exact conditions that still endanger walkers and drivers today.

On the road

Priority corridors include Highway 36 and other high-pedestrian commuter routes. Stress yielding, speed in transitional light, and impairment even during morning hours.

APR

14

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

All-day event

Coordinated Multi-State Campaign

Multi-State Aggressive Driving Enforcement

New Jersey will join forces with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), and local police departments across both states for a coordinated, multi-state aggressive driving enforcement campaign.

Focus

Aggressive driving: speeding, tailgating, improper lane changes, red-light running, and related hazardous behaviors on shared and connecting corridors.

Why this date

Aggressive driving does not stop at a state line. A single-day, two-state surge multiplies deterrence, creates consistent messaging for motorists traveling between New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and demonstrates unified commitment to Goal Zero.

On the road

Coordinate media messaging with partner agencies. Focus resources on interstate connectors, toll roads, and corridors with a documented aggressive-driving problem. Document contacts for after-action sharing with PA partners.

MAY

17

Sunday, May 17, 2026

3:00 PM – 7:00 PM (flexible)

Corridor Remembrance & Enforcement

Honoring Patrolman Robert T. Tobias

Honoring Manchester Patrolman Robert T. Tobias

On May 17, 1975, Patrolman Tobias was tragically struck and killed while standing at the driver's side door of a vehicle he had stopped on the westbound shoulder of State Highway 70 (mile marker 35.8) in Manchester Township.

Focus

Officer safety, Move Over compliance, and targeted enforcement along the State Highway 70 corridor.

Why this date

This campaign is a unified day of remembrance and dedicated enforcement. Concentrating effort on the roadway where Patrolman Tobias was killed honors his sacrifice and addresses the same shoulder-stop hazards that still injure and kill officers.

On the road

Agencies with State Highway 70 in their area of responsibility are asked to focus enforcement along that corridor. Suggested hours are 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; departments may adjust operational hours as needed. Pronunciation: Tobias — toe-BIAS.

JUN

6

Saturday, June 6, 2026

All-day event

Move Over Law Education & Enforcement

Goal Zero — Trooper Marc K. Castellano

Honoring Trooper Marc K. Castellano

On the morning of June 6, 2010, Trooper Castellano was walking along the shoulder of Interstate 195 West near the Exit 31 ramp in Howell Township, searching for an armed suspect connected to an ongoing investigation. He was struck by a passing motorist and died later that day at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. Donna Setaro, mother of Trooper Castellano, recently addressed the Traffic Officers meeting and shared a moving account that every officer should hear.

Focus

Education and enforcement of New Jersey's Move Over Law, with emphasis on giving emergency and service vehicles a lane of space or a significant reduction in speed.

Why this date

An all-day Saturday deployment maximizes public exposure on a high-volume travel day and directly addresses the precise hazard that took Trooper Castellano's life — motorists failing to protect personnel working on the shoulder.

On the road

Pair stops with brief education on the Move Over Law. Share Donna Setaro's message with officers before the detail. Prioritize I-195 and other limited-access highways where shoulder work and emergency stops are frequent.

JUL

22

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

All-day event

DUI / John's Law / HERO Campaign

The John Elliott Memorial Detail

Honoring Ensign John R. Elliott

On the morning of July 22, 2000, Ensign John R. Elliott was killed by a drunk driver while traveling home to celebrate his mother's birthday. He had graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy only two months earlier and was slated for Naval Flight School. The driver who killed him had been arrested for DUI earlier that same evening, but was released to a friend who allowed him to get back behind the wheel.

Press release · July 22, 2026

Focus

Impaired-driving enforcement, strict application of John's Law (impoundment of vehicles of suspected DUI offenders), and a strong HERO designated-driver message.

Why this date

This is a highly emotional, foundational case for New Jersey law enforcement. Emphasizing John's Law reminds patrol officers of the absolute necessity of impounding vehicles of suspected DUI offenders. Because the date falls on a Wednesday during peak summer season, it is also an opportunity to intercept midweek shore traffic.

On the road

Brief every participating officer on John's Law requirements before the detail. Combine saturation patrols with designated-driver messaging aimed at midweek shore travelers.

AUG

15

Saturday, August 15, 2026

All-day / evening event

Pedestrian Safety & Window Tint Enforcement

Mid-Summer Saturation — In Memory of Patti Barrett

Honoring Patti Barrett

Patti Barrett was walking south on the shoulder of Fairmount Avenue in Chatham Borough (no sidewalks) when she was struck and killed. The vehicle that struck her had window tinting on the front windshield and on both the front and rear driver's-side and passenger-side windows.

Press release · August 12, 2026

Focus

Pedestrian safety during peak weekend community activity, plus enforcement of illegal window tint — a contributing factor in this crash.

Why this date

This deployment targets high-volume summer traffic while shifting operational focus toward pedestrians. Saturdays are statistically among the deadliest days for pedestrian crashes. Resources are therefore deployed when risk is highest, with tint enforcement layered in because reduced visibility was a factor in Patti's death.

On the road

Prioritize roads without sidewalks, high-foot-traffic downtown and park areas, and crosswalk compliance. Carry tint meters and enforce windshield and front-side window violations in accordance with statute.

SEP

4

Friday, September 4, 2026

All-day / evening event

Holiday Travel — Pedestrian Safety / DWI

Labor Day Weekend Kickoff

This date marks the start of one of the busiest and deadliest travel periods of the year and serves as the finale to what the traffic safety industry calls the "106 Deadliest Days" — the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when traffic fatalities historically peak.

Press release · September 2, 2026

Focus

High-visibility enforcement for the Labor Day getaway. Daytime hours: pedestrian safety. Nighttime hours: DWI enforcement.

Why this date

Data shows a consistent spike in alcohol-involved fatalities beginning at 6:00 p.m. on the Friday preceding a holiday weekend. The Friday before Labor Day is statistically one of the most dangerous times to be on the road all year.

On the road

Plan a daylight-to-darkness handoff where staffing allows. Message both slow down / yield to pedestrians by day and Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over after 6:00 p.m.

OCT

31

Saturday, October 31, 2026

All-day / evening event

Pedestrian Safety Day / DWI Night

The Fall Safety Pivot — Halloween

Halloween bridges two core Goal Zero objectives and coincides with the conclusion of Pedestrian Safety Month. Halloween falling on a Saturday is a worst-case scenario for traffic safety: high volumes of child pedestrians in costume by day, followed by adult Halloween parties at night.

Press release · October 28, 2026

Focus

Daytime speed reduction and crosswalk compliance; seamless transition into nighttime DWI saturation as adult Halloween events begin.

Why this date

Halloween creates a uniquely hazardous environment with unpredictable, vulnerable road users often obscured by darkness and costumes. A single operational day that pivots from pedestrian protection to impaired-driving enforcement matches the actual risk curve of the holiday.

On the road

Coordinate with local trick-or-treat hours. Increase lighting awareness, school-zone and neighborhood speed enforcement before dusk, then shift to bar-area and roadway DWI patrols after dark.

NOV

25

Wednesday, November 25, 2026

3:00 PM – Midnight

Blackout Wednesday DWI Saturation

Thanksgiving Eve — Memorial Patrolman Jason Marles

Honoring Patrolman Jason Marles, Badge #271

Patrolman Jason Marles (EOW: November 25, 2010) was killed by a drunk driver on the Garden State Parkway while driving home to his family after completing a drunk-driving enforcement detail in Ocean Gate.

Focus

Blackout Wednesday impaired-driving enforcement dedicated to the memory of a fallen brother who died protecting the public from this exact threat.

Why this date

Thanksgiving Eve is historically one of the heaviest binge-drinking nights of the year. Dedicating this specific, highly dangerous night to Patrolman Marles connects the mission of the detail to the officer who lost his life immediately after doing the same work.

On the road

Staff from mid-afternoon through midnight to cover both early bar traffic and late last-call travel. Garden State Parkway and other high-volume holiday-eve routes should receive particular attention. Brief personnel on Patrolman Marles' story before deployment.

DEC

18

Friday, December 18, 2026

All-day event

NHTSA Winter Mobilization Alignment

Winter Holiday Campaign Kickoff

December 18, 2026, is the launch date for NHTSA's nationwide winter enforcement window, which runs through January 1 and features the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over and Drive High, Get a DUI campaigns.

Focus

Aggressive local impaired-driving and holiday-travel enforcement synchronized with the national media campaign.

Why this date

Alignment with the NHTSA National Winter Mobilization significantly amplifies deterrent effect. Hitting the roads on this specific Friday multiplies local visibility by riding the national media blitz, so motorists hear the same message from federal campaigns and see it enforced on New Jersey roads.

On the road

Use NHTSA winter mobilization talking points in all public information. Combine high-visibility patrols with sobriety checkpoints where legally and operationally appropriate. Maintain pressure through New Year's Day.