Traffic stop
Dear North Bergen Township,
Please accept this electronic request for public records made under OPRA and the common law right of access. I am not required to fill out an official form or use a particular software platform to submit my request per NJSA 47:1A-6(f), which states that an email from a requestor including all of the information required on the adopted form shall suffice in place of a completed form as a valid government record request.
I HAVE NOT been convicted of any indictable offense under the laws of New Jersey, any other state, or the United States.
I WILL NOT use the requested government records for a commercial purpose.
I AM NOT seeking records in connection with a legal proceeding.
Records requested:
I would like any CAD logs, dispatch recordings, police journal entry records, vehicle reports, incident reports, operations reports, investigation reports, records of warnings, copies written warnings, documentation of verbal warnings, tickets issued, citations issued, summonses issued, charge sheets, and arrest reports referencing traffic stops conducted in your municipality on 19 dec 2024
My preferred delivery method for response(s) to this request is by E-mail as attachments. Please confirm you have received this request. If you are not the custodian of records, please forward my request to that person and provide their email address to me for future reference.
Yours faithfully,
Concerned Taxpayor
Good Afternoon,
The Township of North Bergen (the “Township”) received your request dated 02/24/2026 under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”), N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq.
Records requested:
“I would like any CAD logs, dispatch recordings, police journal entry records, vehicle reports, incident reports, operations reports, investigation reports, records of warnings, copies written warnings, documentation of verbal warnings, tickets issued, citations issued, summonses issued, charge sheets, and arrest reports referencing traffic stops conducted in your municipality on 19 dec 2024 (sic)
Yours faithfully,
Concerned Taxpayor (sic)”
The Township responds:
A request for,” …any” materials “…referencing traffic stops conducted in your municipality on 19 dec (sic) 2024” is overly broad. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(g), a custodian shall not be required to complete a request if the custodian determines that the request would require research and the collection of information from the contents of government records and the creation of new government records setting forth that research and information.
To the extent that your request refers to traffic stops conducted by personnel of the North Bergen Police Department, the Township responds:
Request 1: “I would like any CAD logs…”
Response: Attached are responsive records entitled 24-118161 CAD REPORT, 24-118121 CAD REPORT, 24-118086 CAD REPORT, 24-117996 CAD REPORT, 24-117991 CAD REPORT, 24-117949 CAD REPORT, redacted in accordance with N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, and N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.
Request 2: “dispatch recordings”
Response: The retention period for audio files is 31 days. There are no records responsive.
Request 3: “police journal entry records, vehicle reports”
Response: The Township holds no records responsive to “police journal entry records” and requests clarification on what records are sought concerning “vehicle reports.”
Request 4: “incident reports, operations reports, investigation reports”
Response: There are no records responsive.
Request 5: “records of warnings, copies written warnings, documentation of verbal warnings”
Response: Responsive warning summons 0908 W24 001630 has been provided to you. Responsive to “documentation of verbal warnings,” CAD Report 24-117949 has been provided to you, redacted in accordance with N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, and N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.
.
Request 6: “tickets issued, citations issued, summonses issued”
Response: The terms ‘tickets,’ ‘citations,’ and ‘summonses’ are commonly used interchangeably in the context of traffic violations. Responsive to request is a document entitled, OPRA Machine request 12-19-24 Traffic Related Summonses Issued. Also provided are copies of all vehicle-related summonses issued on 12/19/2024, redacted in accordance with N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, and N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.
Request 7: “charge sheets, and arrest reports referencing traffic stops conducted in your municipality”
Response: The North Bergen Police Department made no arrests on 12/19/2024 and maintains no records responsive.
As with any OPRA request, you have the right to challenge the decision by the Township. At your option, you may either institute a proceeding in the Superior Court of New Jersey or file a complaint with the Government Records Council (“GRC”) by completing the Denial of Access Complaint Form. You may contact the GRC by toll-free telephone at 866-850-0511, by mail at PO Box 819, Trenton, NJ 08625, or at its web site at www.state.nj.us/grc. The Council can also answer other questions about the law. All questions regarding complaints filed in Superior Court should be directed to the Court Clerk in your County.
Erin Barillas, RMC
Township Clerk
Township of North Bergen
4233 Kennedy Blvd
North Bergen, NJ 07047
e: [North Bergen Township request email]
o: 201-392-2024
f: 201-330-7694
www.northbergen.org