steve-fulop-june-2013.JPG

Mayor Steve Fulop

(Jersey Journal file photo)

Surprise police checkpoints at Port Jersey in Jersey City this morning led to hours of gridlock at the marine terminal, and accusations of harassment by the CEO of the port's main tenant.

The safety checkpoints, initiated by Jersey City police, started yesterday morning, but kicked into high gear today at about 8:30 a.m. Traffic was at a standstill on both Port Jersey Boulevard and on Pulaski Street as a result. Both roadways lead out of Port Jersey toward Route 440.

City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said this week’s checkpoints aren’t related to Fulop’s threat to

over unpaid taxes. But the action will certainly aggravate tensions between the city and the bi-state agency.

James Devine, CEO of Global Container Terminal, which operates at the terminal, told The Star-Ledger the action was costly for the terminal, truck drivers and shippers.

Devine said he believes the inspections were an attempt on Jersey City's part to harass Global as part of Fulop's feud with the Port Authority.

“Nobody said that, but it was obvious to me from a conversation that I had with the captain and the chief of police, that they were just doing what they were told,” Devine said.

Police Chief Robert Cowan said in a statement that he had no conversation with Devine.

Port Authority spokesman Steve Coleman said the bi-state agency is "extremely concerned" about today's police action and its effect on safety for truckers, port workers and the public who travel near the terminal.

Two men who run food trucks near Port Jersey Boulevard and Pulaski Street said tractor trailers were stopped dead coming out of the terminal this morning as police inspected their vehicles. One said when truck drivers tried to cut down Pulaski Street to get to Route 440, city cops stationed cars there to stop them.

“It was all backed up,” said one of the men, who asked that The Jersey Journal not print his name because he didn’t want to get involved in a spat between Jersey City and the Port Authority.

The operation didn't appear to affect any traffic on Route 440.

City officials say police issued 52 tickets this morning to truck drivers for infractions like headlights that don't work, bald tires and missing fire extinguishers, in addition to tickets for drivers talking on their cell phones, not wearing seat belts and failing to posses insurance or registration cards.

In a presentation last week to the City Council, Fulop said most port-related trucks travel along Route 440 from Port Jersey Boulevard to avoid tolls on the New Jersey Turnpike. More than 1,220 trucks pass through per hour during peak times, causing congestion, pollution and road damage, according to Fulop.

Today, the mayor said the city is putting an emphasis on “truck safety.”

"These inspection have and will be ongoing in many areas of the city,” Fulop said in a statement. “There is no reason why truck traffic should not be complying with all applicable laws as the safety for residents on Jersey City roads is paramount."

Truck driver Charles Catania, who was hauling tomatoes to Brooklyn this morning, said he doesn't mind delays if they improve safety in the area.

"They're on top of it, so it's good," Catania said. "It's better to be safe than sorry."

Port Authority officials have mostly declined to comment on Fulop's lawsuit threat, though last week, David Samson, its chairman, said the agency complies with all its legal and contractual obligations.

Fulop claims that the Port Authority doesn’t pay taxes on most of the 32 properties it owns in Jersey City, and on the properties that are taxes, the agreements bring in so little revenue to the city that it causes “undue economic harm.”