Another North Jersey town has changed its traffic pattern for commuters in an effort to unclog side streets for residents and emergency workers.

Leonia, in Bergen County, did it first. That town last month closed about 60 of its residential streets for nine hours every day during rush hour to non-residents and those who don't have business in the town.

Now, Weehawken in Hudson County, wants to take a similar measure, albeit on a smaller scale, to make sure commuters stay off its side streets.

The town's new rule went into effect on Tuesday and bans non-residents from making a right-hand turn onto Pleasant Avenue from on Hackensack Plank Road between 3 and 7 p.m. The side street connects to Interstate 495, and is often used by commuters coming out of the nearby Lincoln Tunnel to get home.

The ban will run Monday through Friday, not including national holidays.

"You never know with tunnel traffic when there's gridlock, so it's going to be something we'll adjust as need be," Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner said. "We're not looking for this to be a revenue, we're looking to alleviate a traffic issue."

Residents will be designated by their parking tags and police officers will be posted at the intersection to catch non-residents. Violaters who turn on the street and decline to turn around will be considered refusing an officer's order and could face a fine that starts at about $100, Turner said.

Fines won't be issued for the first few days, though, he said.

Officials in both towns have said that the traffic issues are compounded by phone apps, such as Waze, that direct drivers to routes with the least amount of traffic.

The congestion makes it difficult for residents to get home and emergency responders through, they said.

But not everyone has appreciated the new law in Leonia. Mayor Judah Zeigler admits the traffic changes have confused some drivers who want to get to businesses on the side streets (Though, he says, the town is now planning to change the wording on its signs to also include, "Leonia destinations exempt.")

A commuter also filed a lawsuit against the township late last month, claiming the new rule "unconscionably impinged" on commuters' ability to travel on the public roads.

Still, Zeigler said his township's rule has been successful in reducing traffic and that it seemed like Weehawken had enough traffic issues to take similar measures.

"This shouldn't be a catch all for traffic problems. The purpose is not to reduce traffic but move it back to our main thoroughfares," Zeigler said.

Sara Jerde may be reached at sjerde@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SaraJerde.

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