New Jersey Traffic Statute Guide
N.J.S.A. 39:4-122, explained.
One police-whistle blast paired with the officer's raised hand commands a full stop until the officer signals movement. Three or more blasts signal an alarm or approaching danger.
The Rule
The one-blast command includes a raised hand
A driver must fully stop upon one police-whistle blast given by a police officer with hand raised. The driver may not proceed until receiving a signal from the officer.
Three or more whistle blasts are an alarm signal indicating a fire engine's approach or other danger. That alarm language is not written as the same individualized stop command as one blast plus raised hand.
What Must Be Proved
The charge is narrower than its label
- A police officer gave one whistle blast with a raised hand applicable to the driver.
- The driver failed to stop fully or proceeded without a release signal.
- The signal was perceivable and the correct driver and movement were identified.
MVC points: 2. That figure comes from the current MVC schedule, not an old payable-ticket table.
Fine note: This section does not state its own dollar amount. This guide therefore does not present an old Violations Bureau payable amount as the current fine.
Evidence & Defenses
Details decide these cases
Combined signal
The statutory command pairs one blast with a raised hand. Video should show both and the officer's orientation.
Competing noise
Sirens, traffic, closed windows, distance, and other whistles bear on whether the alleged signal was heard and understood.
Release signal
Body-camera and traffic video may show a later wave to proceed that the report omits.
Obtain footage from all traffic posts. At event or fire scenes, different officers can give conflicting visual and whistle directions.
Common Questions
Questions about 39:4-122
Does any whistle blast mean stop?
The individualized stop command described here is one blast by an officer with hand raised.
When may I move again?
Only after the officer signals you to proceed.
What do repeated blasts mean?
Three or more are the statutory alarm signal for a fire engine's approach or other danger.
Primary Sources
Read the official material
The explanation above was checked on September 5, 2026 against the New Jersey Legislature's official bulk text (codified through P.L.2025, c.405), the Legislature's live Title 39 compilation, and the MVC's current points table. The 2026 enacted-law index was also checked for later amendments affecting this batch.
- Official Legislature lookup for N.J.S.A. 39:4-122
- Local Title 39 reference entry for N.J.S.A. 39:4-122
- New Jersey Legislature official statute-text archive
- New Jersey MVC official points schedule
Related reading: New Jersey traffic-ticket defense and the New Jersey municipal court directory.
Charged under N.J.S.A. 39:4-122?
The citation is only the start. The location, observations, video, and exact subsection determine what the State can prove.
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Source verification completed September 5, 2026 against the New Jersey Legislature bulk statutes through P.L.2025, c.405, the exact Title 39 section, and the New Jersey MVC points schedule. Primary sources: Legislature statute archive and MVC points schedule. This is source verification, not a representation of attorney review. Laws change; nothing here is legal advice for your specific case.