New Jersey Traffic Statute Guide
N.J.S.A. 39:4-127.2, explained.
At a movable-span bridge, drivers may not bypass a closed or moving gate and must obey advance bridge signals, signs, police, bridge tenders, flaggers, and gatemen.
The Rule
The rule reaches barriers and authorized directions
No person may drive through, around, or under a gate or barrier at, or approaching, a movable-span bridge while the barrier is closed or being opened or closed.
Drivers also may not disobey a traffic-control signal or sign, police officer, duly authorized bridge tender, flagman, or gateman located at or in advance of the bridge. An allegation should identify which control was disobeyed.
What Must Be Proved
The charge is narrower than its label
- The location was at or on the approach to a movable-span bridge.
- A gate was closed or moving and was bypassed, or an identified bridge control or authorized person's direction applied.
- The accused drove in disobedience to that control.
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
Barrier phase
Bridge-operation logs and synchronized surveillance can show whether the gate had begun moving when the vehicle crossed.
Authority and signal
The State should identify the sign, signal, or authorized person and the exact direction given.
Approach visibility
Queue position, curvature, weather, other vehicles, and warning placement affect what the driver could see before committing to the span.
Request bridge logs and video promptly and compare their clock to the summons and patrol video. Do not rely on later reenactment while the bridge is operating.
Common Questions
Questions about 39:4-127.2
Can I pass under a gate while it is still coming down?
No. The statute covers a barrier that is closed or being opened or closed.
Must I obey a bridge tender?
Yes, if the person is duly authorized and directing traffic at or in advance of the bridge.
What records can show the timing?
Many movable bridges keep opening, alarm, and barrier logs; fixed surveillance and patrol video may provide additional clocks.
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. 39:4-127.2
- Local Title 39 reference entry for N.J.S.A. 39:4-127.2
- 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. 39:4-127.2?
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.