Frequently Asked Questions -- Public Safety

NEW CONTACT NUMBER FOR MAPLE SHADE POLICE DEPARTMENT

EFFECTIVE AUGUST 2nd The new number to contact the Maple Shade Police Department for non emergency response is 856-234-8300. Examples of non emergencies are: lost dog, motor vehicle accident, missing person, etc.

Police Department

1. How do I file a police report?
2. How can I get a copy of a police report?
3. If I’m involved in a traffic accident, what should I do?
4. What can I do about traffic concerns in my neighborhood?
5. How can I contest traffic or parking citations?
6. I lost my traffic citation – What do I do?
7. What can I do about my noisy neighbors?
8. I was a victim of a crime and reported it. What happens next?
9. How can I report narcotics activity in my neighborhood?
10. How can I report a hate crime?
11. How can I obtain a restraining order?
12. What can I do about annoying or threatening phone calls?
13. How do I report a Missing Person?
14. What can I do about "identity theft"?
15. What are the regulations regarding construction-related noise?
16. What can I do about barking dogs in my neighborhood?
17. What can I do about suspicious activity in my neighborhood?
18. What can I do about juvenile delinquency problems with my children or in my neighborhood?
19. What can I do about ATV & dirt-bike concerns in my neighborhood?
20. I have a question regarding my traffic citation - Who do I ask?
21. How do I report a street light out?
22. How do I obtain a firearms permit?
23. Questions about Megan’s Law?
24. NJ’s 12 most wanted.

1. How do I file a police report?
Police reports can be filed at the Maple Shade Township Police Department which is located at 200 Stiles Avenue, Maple Shade, NJ 08052, or by calling856-234-8300 and a police officer will be dispatched to your location.

2. How can I get a copy of a police report?
Traffic Accident reports can be picked up at the Maple Shade Police Records Division, 200 Stiles Avenue, Maple Shade, NJ 08052 Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. The fee is $0.75 per page for the 1st to 10th page; $0.50 for the 11th to 20th page; all pages over 20 $0.25 per page. When a request for an accident report is not made in person, an additional fee of $5.00 plus the above mentioned fees will be added. Accident reports are generally 1 to 3 pages in length, depending upon the severity of the accident. Criminal Investigation reports may also be picked at the Record’s Division, however, some restrictions may apply. Contact Police Records Division at 856-779-9499 for further information.

3. If I’m involved in a traffic accident, what should I do?
As our township grows, so does traffic congestion and the likelihood of traffic accidents. Should you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of being involved in a motor vehicle accident, there are certain steps you should follow for your safety as well as to assist you through the entire process. • Regardless of the severity of the damage, always call the police department to respond and make a report. NEVER leave the scene of an accident without first reporting the accident to a police officer. • If your vehicle is still in the roadway, there are NO injuries reported as a result of the collision and your vehicle is safe to do so, carefully move your vehicle to a safe location (i.e. shoulder of roadway or parking lot) • If you are unable to move your vehicle safely to another location, remain in your vehicle until assistance arrives. Unless your vehicle is in a hazardous location, then dismount your vehicle and go to a safe location. • Attempt to refrain from arguing with any other persons involved in the collision. • Retrieve your driver’s license, registration and insurance card. Be prepared to produce these documents to the officer who responds to investigate your collision. • When an officer asks you questions pertaining to the collision, attempt to give a clear and concise account of the accident. Do not feel that any piece of information is too minor to report. • Ask the officer for your case number so you can give that case number to the Police Records Division when retrieving your accident report. • You may obtain a copy of your accident report after 5 working days at the Maple Shade Police Records Division, 200 Stiles Avenue, Maple Shade, NJ 08052.

4. What can I do about traffic concerns in my neighborhood?
If you have a concern with traffic in your neighborhood such as speeding vehicles, you should contact the Traffic Unit in writing or by phone. A Traffic Officer will respond to your neighborhood to survey the traffic. Officers may remain posted on your street during busy traffic times to issue summonses, or may post a RADAR trailer on your street to advise the motoring public of their speed and the posted speed limit. Calls may be placed to 856-779-7111 extension 125, or write to Traffic Unit, 200 Stiles Avenue, Maple Shade, NJ 08052.

5. How can I contest traffic or parking citations?
A person who receives a traffic or parking citation may contest it by contacting the Maple Shade Township Municipal Court. A court administrator will assign a court date. On the specified date, the person will be able to plead his/her case before a judge. Additional information can be obtained by calling the Maple Shade Township Municipal Court at 856-779-9610 extension 168.

6. I lost my traffic citation - What do I do?
If you lost your traffic citation, you need to contact the Maple Shade Township Municipal Court at 856-779-9610 extension 168 for information on how to proceed to contest the summonses or enter a guilty plea.

7. What can I do about my noisy neighbors?
A noisy neighbor may create a disturbance by having a loud television, stereo, or radio. These types of complaints are best handled by the police department because the loud noise is intermittent, occasional, or spontaneous. A loud party is also best resolved by the police department. Should the problem become on-going, an officer will respond to hear the noise and issue summonses if warranted. Responding officers may meet with the parties involved in an attempt to mediate the situation without court procedures.

8. I was a victim of a crime and reported it. What happens next?
Follow-up investigations are conducted by the Investigative Division. Cases are assigned on a priority basis by the Investigative Division Supervisor. To obtain information about an assigned investigation, victims may call the Investigative Division Supervisor at 856-779-7111 ext. 136 and inquire. The Maple Shade Township Police Department has a crime tip hotline where suspicious or criminal activity can be reported anonymously. All information is strictly confidential. Call 856-779-0094. It’s important to note that the Investigative Division will only investigate crimes such as robbery, burglary, sexual assault, high dollar thefts as examples. All other minor offenses will be investigated by the officer who takes the report.

9. How can I report narcotics activity in my neighborhood?
There are several ways to report narcotics activity in your neighborhood. The Investigative Division is the entity that handles citizen complaints/tips concerning narcotics activity at the street level. Narcotics activity may be reported by contacting the Investigative Division at 856-779-7111, or anonymously through the Crime Tip Line at 856-779-0094.

10. How can I report a hate crime?
Hate crimes are very serious and traumatic incidents. It is important for citizens to remember that when these crimes are occurring, they should be reported to the police immediately by telephoning 856-234-8300. When a citizen finds that he or she has been a victim of a hate crime and it is not an immediate life-threatening emergency, he or she should phone the police department at 856-234-8300 and report the crime.

11. How can I obtain a restraining order?
A Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) may be requested whether or not an arrest has been made or the police have been called. A TRO is always free. Emergency Temporary Restraining Orders are available through the police department on a 24-hour basis. If the situation is non-emergent, you can request a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) by appearing at the Burlington County Superior Court during normal business hours, Monday through Friday. Follow these guidelines to assist you: * Request a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) at the Superior Court. * Deliver a copy of the TRO, Proof of Service, and Law Enforcement Information form to your local police station. Retain the originals of all documents. * You must return to court to obtain a Final Restraining Order. You will be given a return to court date when obtaining the TRO. The Final Restraining Order must also be served to the defendant and copies delivered to the police station. For further assistance, please call the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-265-5035.

12. What can I do about annoying or threatening phone calls?
If you become a victim of annoying phone calls on your home phone, you should report them to the police department. Your phone company may be able to assist in tracking the origin of the calls if they have a police report number. If you become a victim of threatening phone calls, report them to your local police department immediately. Law enforcement takes threatening calls seriously, and so should you, especially if you are in a battering relationship or have been the victim of domestic violence. Use Call Trace immediately after a call. It will trace the last call you received.
After receiving a call you want to trace, hang up the receiver to end the call.
Pick up the receiver and listen for the dial tone.
You must trace the call before another call is received.
Press (rotary phones dial 1-1-5-7) and follow the voice-recorded instructions.
Stay on the line and listen for a recording that tells you if Call Trace was activated and if the call was successfully traced.
Once you have successfully traced the required number of calls (differs by area), contact the Maple Shade Township Police Department and obtain a complaint number.
Note: You must repeat these steps each time you want to trace a call.
Taking further action by establishing a case
Some states require you to trace two or more calls in order to establish a case. If you want to establish a case, call the Verizon Unlawful Call Center at 800-257-2969, Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. with your complaint number to open a case. If you want to hear a recorded message about how to use Call Trace, call
877-TRACE4U (877-872-2348) at any time. To reach the Verizon Unlawful Call Center please call 800-257-2969. Their hours of operation are Monday - Friday 08:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Verizon will store Call Trace information for 90 days. You will be notified within 30 days if there is enough Call Trace information to be sent to a law enforcement agency. The action taken by law enforcement may vary by area. The records of all traced calls will be released to a law enforcement agency only.

13. How do I report a Missing Person?
You may initiate a Missing Persons Report by contacting the Maple Shade Township Police Department at 856-234-8300. Contrary to popular belief, law enforcement agencies in New Jersey do not require a person to wait a specific period of time before reporting a missing person. Once you suspect that a person is missing, the police should be notified immediately.

14. What can I do about "identity theft"?
If you become the victim of identity theft, it is important to act immediately to stop the thief’s further use of your identity. Immediately contact all your credit card issuers. Get replacement cards with new account numbers. Ask that the old accounts be processed as "account closed at consumer’s request." (This is better than "card lost or stolen," because when this statement is reported to credit bureaus, it can be interpreted as blaming you for the loss.) Call the fraud units of the three credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and Trans Union. Report the theft of your credit cards and/or numbers. Ask that your accounts be flagged. Also, add a victim's statement to your report such as, "My ID has been used to apply for credit fraudulently. Contact me at XXX-XXX-XXXX (your phone number) to verify all applications." Notify your bank(s) of the theft. Cancel your checking and savings accounts and obtain new account numbers. Ask the bank to issue you a secret password that must be used in every transaction. Put stop payments on any outstanding checks that you are unsure of. If you use the ATM card for banking services, get a new card, account number, and password. Do not use your old password. When creating a password, avoid such commonly used numbers as the last four digits of your Social Security number and your birth date. If you have had checks stolen or bank accounts set up fraudulently, report it to Telecheck and National Processing Company (NPC). These check guarantee companies will flag your file so that bogus checks will be turned down. Call Telecheck at 800-366-2425. Call NPC at 800-526-5380. The Secret Service has jurisdiction over financial fraud cases. This federal government agency usually does not investigate individual cases unless the dollar amount is very high. To interest the Secret Service in your case, ask someone in the fraud department of your credit card companies and/or banks to notify the particular SS agent they work with. Notify the Social Security Administration’s office of the Inspector General if your SSN has been used fraudulently. You may want to have your SSN changed if your number has become associated with bad checks and credit. CAUTION: This step should be reserved for only the most extreme situations. You must be sure to notify all credit grantors and credit reporting bureaus of your new SSN. If you have a passport, notify the passport office to be on the look out for anyone ordering a new passport fraudulently. Call your telephone, electrical, gas and water utilities. Alert them to the possibility that someone may attempt to open new service using your identification. Also contact your long distance company. The nearest office of the Consumer Credit Counseling Service might be able to help you remove fraudulent claims from your credit report. Call 800-388-2227. In dealing with the authorities and financial institutions, keep a log of all conversations, including dates and names. Send correspondence by certified mail. Keep copies of all letters and documents. Provide your police report number to expedite reporting the crime. Consider seeking legal counsel, especially if you have difficulty clearing up your credit history, or your case is complex and involves a lot of money. An attorney can help you recover from the fraud and determine whether your rights under various credit banking, SSN, and other laws have been violated. Pay attention to your own mental health. Victims of identity theft report that they often feel they are somehow to blame. They can also feel violated, even powerless, due in large part to the fact that few, if any, of the authorities who have been notified of the crime step forward to help the victim. Discuss your situation with a trusted friend or counselor. Seek help from a victims’ rights organization. Credit Reporting Divisions Equifax Copy of Report: P.O. Box 740241 Atlanta, Georgia 30374-0241 Dispute Report: P.O. Box 740256 Atlanta, Georgia 30374-0256 Order Credit Report:800-685-1111 Opt Out of Marketing Lists:800-219-1251 Report Fraud:800-525-6285 Trans Union Copy of Report: P.O. Box 7000 North Olmstead, OH 44070 Dispute Report: P.O. Box 403 Springfield, PA 19064 Order Credit Report:800-851-2674 Opt Out of Marketing Lists:800-241-2858 Report Fraud:800-680-7289 Experian Copy of Report: Dispute Report: Experian National Consumer Assistance Center P.O. Box 2104 Allen, TX 75013-2104 Order Credit Report:888-397-3742 Opt Out of Marketing Lists:800-353-0809 Remember, if you have been denied credit, you are entitled to a free credit report. To remove your name from mailing lists (Direct Marketing Association), contact Mail Preference Service, P.O. Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735 and Telephone Preference Service, P.O. Box 9015, Farmingdale, NY 11735. To report fraudulent use of your checks, call your bank, Telecheck (800-366-2425) or National Processing Company (NPC) 800-526-5380. For additional information go to www.njsp.org and click on Identity Theft – Victim’s Reference Guide.

15. What are the regulations regarding construction-related noise?
The Maple Shade Township ordinance 128-3(J) reads Construction or repair. The carrying out of excavation, demolition, construction, repair or alteration work, by commercial contractors, other than between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays between April 15 and October 15 and from October 16 to April 14, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays. The carrying-on of construction, repair or alteration work by a homeowner on his/her own dwelling or property, other than between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and other than between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. In the case of urgent necessity or in the interest of public health or safety, the Township Manager may grant a waiver for excavation, demolition, construction, repair or alteration work for a period not to exceed three days, which may be renewed for additional periods of three days, while the emergency continues. For clarification, contact the Building & Zoning Department at 856-779-9610 ext. 114.

16. What can I do about barking dogs in my neighborhood?
Although pets can provide much companionship and love, they can also become a nuisance to an entire neighborhood if not cared for properly. All barking dogs or other nuisance complaints are handled by calling the Maple Shade Township Police Department at 856-234-8300. The Township ordinance 63-19 reads No person shall keep, harbor or maintain any dog which continuously barks or cries. Any dog which continuously barks or cries shall be deemed to be an objectionable noise pursuant to the Public Health Nuisance Code adopted pursuant to Chapter 130 of the Code of the Township of Maple Shade. You also may walk into the Maple Shade Township Police Department which is located at 200 Stiles Avenue, Maple Shade, NJ 08052 and sign a complain against the dogs owner.

17. What can I do about suspicious activity in my neighborhood?
There are several ways to report suspicious activity in your neighborhood. The Police Patrol Division is the entity that handles citizen complaints concerning suspicious activity at the street level. Suspicious activity may be reported by contacting the police department 856-234-8300, or anonymously through the Crime Tip Line at 856-779-0094. Any suspicious activity appearing to be a crime in progress should be reported to 856-234-8300. The Maple Shade Township Police Department encourages all neighborhoods to form Neighborhood Watch groups. Watch Groups provide extra eyes and ears in our neighborhoods. Call the Maple Shade Township Police Department at 856-779-7111 ext. 116 to obtain more information on Neighborhood Watch in your community.

18. What can I do about juvenile delinquency problems with my children or in my neighborhood?
The Maple Shade Township Police Department Juvenile Detective and Liaison’s address youths who become involved in delinquent acts or family crisis matters. Officers encourage diversion of juveniles involved in minor offenses by means of early intervention and mediation. Many first time offenders of minor offenses will be better served by having the matter adjudicated at the lowest appropriate level, although the Juvenile Detective and Liaison’s will aggressively investigate and prosecute those serious, habitual offenders that jeopardize the welfare of our community. The Maple Shade Township Police Department and the Maple Shade School District also recognize the need for intervention during school hours. Juvenile infractions occurring within the school district are handled by the Juvenile Detective and/or Liaison Officers. These officers also provide a great deal of prevention through educational presentations and mediation of juvenile problems. Please call 856-779-7111 ext. 128 for juvenile matters in your neighborhood or 856-779-1750 on juvenile matters within the Maple Shade Township School District.

19. What can I do about ATV & dirt-bike concerns in my neighborhood?
All Terrain Vehicles (ATV’s) and dirt-bikes can provide much outdoor enjoyment for all ages. However, there are strict laws regarding their usage. If you are experiencing ATV’s or dirt-bikes being operated illegally in your neighborhood, call the Maple Shade Township Police Department at 856-234-8300 to have an officer dispatched to your neighborhood. An officer will respond to resolve the situation.

20. I have a question regarding my traffic citation - Who do I ask?
If you have any questions regarding your traffic citation, you need to contact the Maple Shade Township Municipal Court at 856-779-9610 extension 168. The Maple Shade Township Police Department is not authorized to supply information regarding the disposition or future outcome of any citation.

21. How do I report a street light out?
You can call the Maple Shade Township Police Department or you can call directly to Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) at 800-436-PSEG (7734) or you can go on-line to https://extsecure.pseg.com/webformsWeb/resources/jsp/psegcom/streetlight-out.jsp and fill out your request on line.

22. How do I obtain a firearms permit?
Firearms ID card along with Handgun applications can be obtained by setting up an appointment with Virginia Woehr and she can be contacted Monday through Friday 8 am – 4 pm at 856-779-7111 extension 134.

23. Questions about Megan’s Law?
Go to the New Jersey State Police web site at www.njsp.org and click on the NJ Sex Offender Registry icon for detailed information.

24. NJ’s 12 most wanted.
Go to the New Jersey State Police web site at www.njsp.org and click on the NJ’s 12 most wanted icon for detailed information.