Tailgating (also known as following too closely) is a serious offense in New Jersey. Under NJSA 39:4-89, anyone caught following too closely carries a fine of $85 or even $140 if you are in a 65 MPH / Construction Zone. Anyone who is caught tailgating will receive a five-point penalty on their driving offense.
If you’ve been caught tailgating in New Jersey, call our team of traffic lawyers today at 732-308-0200 for a free consultation.
Driving at a Safe Distance
To avoid a tailgating charge, it’s always smart to drive at a reasonable distance. A safe following distance is considered to be a two-second interval between cars on a dry roadway. On a wet roadway a four-to-five second interval is considered a safe distance by the New Jersey State Police. The NJSP has found that tailgating is an “intimidating, irritating, and potentially dangerous practice” that leads to “increased crashes and injuries.”
Tailgating for Trucks
NJSA 39:4-89 provides that trucks are deemed to be tailgating when they are closer than 100 feet from the vehicle they are following.
To quote the statute:
“The driver of a vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard to the speed of the preceding vehicle and the traffic upon, and condition of, the highway.
“The driver of a motor truck when traveling upon a highway, outside of a business or residence district, shall not follow another motor truck within one hundred feet, but this shall not be construed to prevent one motor truck overtaking and passing another.”
Call a Traffic Attorney Near You
If you’ve been caught tailgating, it’s not the end of the world. Our team of traffic attorneys have been defending clients for tailgating for almost thirty years. We will provide a reasonable argument in court to get your charges dropped immediately. At Ellis Law, we are all about results, results, results. Call us today at 732-308-0200.
