Friday Briefs From WOBM News

News from Ocean & Monmouth Counties and around New Jersey.

WOODBRIDGE - Toll cheating is down and revenue is up along the Garden State Parkway. The New Jersey Turnpike Authority says toll violations at unstaffed exact change lanes have declined since the photo-enforcement policy went into effect in mid-October. Officials say they saw a 15 percent increase in both toll and violation revenues by the end of November netting an additional $300,000. The authority says they also put more mechanics out to fix toll machine problems resulting from customer complaints that they received violation notices when they paid tolls.

TOMS RIVER - The Ocean County Board Of Freeholders will be holding a public hearing next week on a proposal to purchase an environmentally sensitive tract in Jackson Township. The board is expected to approve the purchase of the 54-acre West Turkey Swamp Park for $175,000 to preserve as open-space. The land will become a part of 672 acres of county-owned land that contain the headwaters of the Metedeconk River. The public hearing takes place on December 21st at 4 p.m. at the county administration building.

TRENTON(AP) -- Legislation heading to the governor will allow commuters to park even closer to train stations, even without a reserved space. The bill would let non-permit holders park in reserved spots at NJ Transit stations during off-peak hours.

TRENTON - The state Assembly approves a bill requiring New Jersey infants to be screened for a rare genetic metabolic disorder. The bill sponsored by Monmouth Assemblyman Dave Rible and Burlington Assemblyman Herb Conaway calls for the screening of Lysosomal Storage disorders. The disease can cause developmental delays, movement disorders as well as pulmonary and cardiac problems in young children.

TOMS RIVER - A former Ocean County man convicted of child luring is now free on bail. Reports say 52-year-old Brian Warner was released tuesday on $50,000 after an appeals court overturned his conviction. Warner was charged with attempting to lure three Tuckerton children into a rigged van. The appeals court says charges of luring and weapons possession should not have been tried together because it would unduly prejudice the jury.

COLTS NECK - Tragedy strikes a Colts Neck farm where the body of a missing man is discovered at the bottom of a horse therapy pool Thursday. Reports say the man is identified as 51-year-old Dalio Simmons, who boarded his horse at the farm and lived in an apartment on the premesis. He was reported missing December 6th. Investigators say Simmons death doesn't appear to be suspicious.

STAFFORD - The Stafford Township man involved in the September car crash that left a pedestrian dead is charged with vehicular homicide. Twenty-five-year-old Robert Kusznikow of Stafford was arrested Thursday at township police headquarters. A judge set bail at $150,000. Prosecutors say Kusznikow was drving the Ford pickup that veered off Mermaid Drive, hit a utility pole and then ran down the victim. Investigators ask anyone with more information to call the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

TRENTON - A former New Jersey home energy assistance administrator spends 364 days in the Atlantic County jail and five years on probation for stealing nine-thousand dollars' worth of benefits from the program. Marvin laws of atlantic city is the sixth defendant sentenced since january in a statewide probe that has snagged four administrators and an oil dealer.

OCEAN (MONMOTUH)  - An employee of an apartment complex in Monmouth's Ocean Township faces charges connected to four burglaries there in the past three months. Police arrested 39-year-old Willie Watkins Friday, accusing him of using a master key to loot the apartments of money, jewelry and personal items. Watkins faces four counts of burglary, theft and possession of tools.

OCEAN (MONMOUTH) - Two Monmouth men face drug charges after a road stop in Ocean Township. Police say they pulled Michael Budd Junior's car to the curb Friday on Route 66 to check on a possible license suspension, and found marijuana on him. Police say his passenger, Edward Myers of Shrewsbury, bolted from the car and was found with marijuana and a folding knife after a foot chase toward Route 18. Budd got a criminal summons. Myers is in the Monmouth County Jail, also facing weapons and obstruction charges.