Award Recipient – “2002 Innovation in Governance Award” Presented by the New Jersey League of Municipalities and the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs
H.A.P.P.Y Campaign (Helmets and Police Protecting Youth). This program is designed to promote the use of helmets by children under the age of 14.
As you know, Medford Township has a strong tradition of promoting recreation. Over the past several years, we have seen the growth of recreational activities such as roller blading, skateboarding, bicycling and most recently, scooters. To prevent injuries that go along with these activities, the State of New Jersey and Medford Township have adopted laws to enhance the safety of persons engaged in these types of activity.
In cooperation with the Medford Township Superior Officers Association (MTSOA), the Medford Township Police Officers Association (MTPOA), and the Pinelands Auxiliary to Virtua-Memorial Hospital of Burlington County, the Township has implemented the H.A.P.P.Y. Campaign. The aim of this promotion is a simple one, to increase the use of helmets by our youth.
Each Medford Township child under the age of 14 will be given a helmet safety brochure and a H.E.L.P. (Helmet Emergency Labeling Program) during school. The H.E.L.P. sticker is provided to assist public safety personnel with emergency information concerning your child should he or she become injured while away from home.
As a way to reward our youth for wearing their helmets, the MTSOA and the MTPOA, are sponsoring a H.A.P.P.Y. Ticket Enforcement Program as part of this campaign. When a Police Officer observes a youth wearing a helmet while on a skateboard, roller blades, scooter, or bicycle on a public roadway or place, the Police Officer will initiate contact with your child. You child will receive a H.A.P.P.Y. Ticket. This “ticket” contains information on injuries related to pedestrian, pedal cyclist and scooter injuries. In addition, your child will receive a free meal coupon redeemable at a local food establishment and be entered into a weekly prize drawing. The parent or guardian of each child contacted will receive a follow-up phone call from the Police Division advising you of this positive contact.
Each Monday afternoon a township official will randomly draw the name of a lucky, weekly winner. The weekly winner will win a prize redeemable at a local business as well as having their picture placed on the Medford Township Website. (Parental consent required.)
This program will run from mid April through the Friday before Memorial Day, at which time all participants in this program will be eligible for a Grand Prize Drawing. The Grand prizewinner will receive a brand new Mountain Bike and Helmet and be invited to ride along with the Mayor in the annual Memorial Day Parade on Main Street.
It is our sincerest aspiration that all of our township’s youth be safety conscious at all times, particularly when engaged in recreational activities requiring the use of a helmet. With the combined cooperation of Parents, Government, Schools,, business and our Youth, we can reduce the potential number of injuries that may occur in Medford Township.
Medford Township Police
Department/Public Safety Building
91 Union Street, Medford, NJ 08055
Dispatch - (609) 654-7511
Citizen Tip Hotline - (609) 714-0302