Jitney owners throughout Hudson County charged with alleged violations of Angelie’s Law
The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs has issued notices of violation to 17 commercial autobus owners for failure to post public notices on the outside and inside vehicles about how passengers can report complaints and concerns to the division. These commercial autobuses are commonly known as “jitneys,” “commuter vans,” or “commuter buses.”
“Each commercial autobus must post a notice informing riders of how to report service and safety complaints,” said Steve Lee, Acting Director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. “This requirement, among others, is designed to protect the safety of both riders and the general public.”
Autobuses operating on public roads and carrying up to 40 passengers must have interior and exterior notices directing passengers to report service complaints to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. The division’s telephone number must also be provided. These notices are required under “Angelie’s Law,” a state law enacted in memory of Angelie Paredes, who was killed in West New York in July 2013 in an accident caused by an autobus driver who was allegedly using his cell phone while driving.
“All travelers using commercial autobuses must be assured of their safety, as the law requires,” said Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman. “Companies operating these autobuses must be in full compliance with Angelie’s Law, and we will do all we can to make sure that these companies are protecting their riders by being in full compliance.”
Many Hudson County commercial autobus owners were issued notices of violation, including in North Bergen, Jersey City, Union City, and West New York.
The Hudson County Office of Consumer Affairs and the New Jersey State Police Motor Coach Compliance and Safety Unit participated in the inspections, along with the cooperation of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Commercial Vehicle Inspection Unit.
Port Authority arrests Union City man of allegedly stealing $1K in copper wire
Jose Pujols-Quintas, 52, of Union City, was charged last week with burglary and theft by unlawful taking as the result of a sting operation run by the Port Authority Police Department.
Working with the Port Authority Inspector General’s Office, the Port Authority Police arrested Pujols-Quintas for allegedly stealing nearly $1,000 in copper wire from a Port Authority facility, said Joseph Pentangelo, spokesperson for the Port Authority.
PA police reported that at about 10 p.m. on July 30, Pujols-Quintas was seen walking in a restricted area of the rail yard inside 200 Academy St. in Jersey City.
A PATH employee reported seeing Pujols-Quintas seated inside a black 2007 Ford Explorer with the vehicle’s rear cargo door open near a pile of copper wire. The employee informed the suspect that neither he nor his auto were authorized to be in the area.
The suspect said he was working in the area putting posters on PATH trains. and produced an employee pass. Officials alledge that the suspect’s vehicle contained posters and 330 pounds of copper wire in plain view. The copper cables were confirmed to be the same wires that had been on a nearby platform earlier. The suspect was placed under arrest. The wire is valued at $990.
Secaucus FD rescues trucker stuck up to his shoulders in ‘pig swill’
Secaucus used to be known for its pig farms, but after the Turnpike extended to the town, they began to disappear. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t other pig-related industry going on around here.
On June 17, the Secaucus Fire Department responded to a report of a man stuck in a container at 8:48 a.m. Upon arrival, they discovered the victim, Daniel Leblanc, 56, buried up to his shoulders in pig swill and trapped inside the trailer of a dump truck. Pig swill is discarded bakery waste that is used to feed pigs.
Leblanc, from Montreal, Canada, was inside the trailer supervising the loading of the swill to bring back to Canada, when he lost his footing and became partially buried. Firefighters were able to remove Leblanc using harnesses and a backboard within 50 minutes. Meadowlands Hospital and Jersey City Medical Center EMS evaluated the victim at the scene but he refused any further medical attention.
Since Mr. Leblanc only spoke French, the firefighters were fortunate to have David Hayashida from the Plaza Firehouse on scene, who spoke French fluently and translated for emergency personnel. Ladder 1, Rescue 1, Engines 1, 2, and 3 responded to the incident, along with the Secaucus Police Department. Battalion Chief Carl Leppin was assigned rescue operations, while COD Bryan Schoch was incident command.
Once rescued, Leblanc was able to complete his journey back to Canada with his load.