If you recently felt as though a shrub was looking back at you while driving through downtown Dunellen, New Jersey, you were probably not imagining things; it may actually have been a police officer rather than roadside greenery. If you failed to notice the shrub because you were busy looking at your phone, though, there is a fair chance you could have ended up with a ticket.

The Dunellen Police Department recently used Facebook to highlight this unusual method of enforcing distracted driving rules. Strange as it may sound, the approach turned out to be highly effective. Over the course of a six-hour enforcement exercise, officers issued 74 citations to drivers allegedly distracted by their phones.

The operation was carried out along the 100 block of Dunellen’s North Washington Avenue, a busy stretch in the town centre with significant vehicle and pedestrian movement. According to the department, that spot was chosen specifically because of the number of people walking through the area and the need to ensure drivers remain attentive to the road.

The undercover officer, concealed in a ghillie-style suit made to resemble bushes by the roadside, monitored passing traffic for motorists holding or using their phones. When a distracted driver was identified, nearby officers pulled the vehicle over and issued a citation for violating New Jersey’s handheld mobile phone law. Even the officers who were not dressed up as shrubbery joined in the low-key approach, with at least one wearing a “Not a Cop” T-shirt.

Although the camouflage may have prompted a few laughs online, the purpose behind the operation is a serious one. Distracted driving continues to be one of the main causes of crashes across the United States; according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it resulted in 315,167 injuries and 3208 fatalities in 2024 alone.

Whether dressing officers up as roadside bushes becomes a long-term enforcement tactic remains unclear, but the effort certainly managed to catch drivers’ attention. The next time you are tempted to check a text while driving, it may be worth remembering that the bush at the side of the road might not be just a bush.