LAKEWOOD - New signs, courtesy of the police department, will be placed around the township encouraging rideshare app users to use caution when entering an unfamiliar vehicle.

The "SAMI" signs are the namesake of 21-year-old Robbinsville native Samantha Josephson. The University of South Carolina senior was killed after getting into a vehicle she believed to be her Uber. Nathaniel David Rowland, a South Carolina man posing as an Uber driver, was charged with murder and kidnapping.

"SAMI" is an acronym for stop, ask, match and inform. Township police urge riders to first plan ahead and review the route to their destination. Riders should then ask the driver "what's my name?" to confirm that you are the intended passenger.

Before entering the vehicle, riders are urged to double check that the driver's vehicle information and license plate match what is displayed in your app. When en route, riders should share their travel status with a friend so they can anticipate their arrival.

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Since their daughter's death, Josephson's parents, Seymour and Marci, established the #WHATSMYNAME Foundation, to educate others on the importance of rider safety. At his daughter's vigil, Seymour Josephson called upon rideshare services to improve safety for their clients.

Last June, Gov. Phil Murphy signed Sami's Law. The law requires ride-hailing companies to provide drivers with reflective or illuminated signs to display in both the front and rear windows of the vehicle when on the clock.

If the signage can be illuminated, it is required to be turned on when it's dark and must be visible.

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In addition, ride-booking companies are required to provide every driver with two copies of a bar code or "machine-readable" code unique to that driver and vehicle. The code must be displayed on the driver's- and passenger's-side rear windows when the driver is logged into the company's digital network.

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Drivers must return the signs and identification cards to the company within 30 days after they stop working for the ride-sharing service.

Drivers could face fines of $250 if the identifying markers are not displayed. They can also be locked out of the digital identification system if they fail to display the required signage or identifying markers.

If Uber, Lyft or any other ride-sharing company does not issue any of the necessary items or fails to stop a driver who is not following the state's guidelines, the Motor Vehicle Commission can suspend or revoke the company's permit to operate in New Jersey.

Contributing: North Jersey reporter Kaitlyn Kanzler

Jai-Leen James is a digital producer at the Asbury Park Press. She can be reached at jtjames@gannett.com or on Twitter @j_james17.