A New Jersey police department used an officer in a ghillie suit resembling a tree. This unusual tactic aimed to raise awareness about distracted driving dangers. Later, plainclothes officers conducted an operation and cited seventy-four drivers. These citations were for using mobile phones while operating vehicles. The campaign sought to reduce preventable crashes caused by inattentive drivers.
A police department in New Jersey has gone viral after using an unusual disguise to crack down on distracted driving. The Dunellen Police Department dressed one of its officers in a green ghillie suit that made him resemble a roadside tree as part of a campaign to remind motorists about the dangers of using smartphones behind the wheel. While the tree disguise was primarily used to grab public attention and encourage safer driving, police later carried out a six-hour enforcement operation with plainclothes officers on July 29, 2026, during which 74 drivers were cited for distracted driving. Officials said the campaign was aimed at reducing preventable crashes caused by motorists taking their eyes off the road.
Officer disguised himself as a roadside tree
Residents in Dunellen, New Jersey, were surprised to spot what appeared to be a strange shrub standing beside a busy road. The “tree” was actually a police officer wearing a ghillie suit, a camouflage outfit commonly used by military snipers to blend into natural surroundings. Equipped with binoculars, the officer observed traffic while remaining almost invisible to passing motorists. Police later shared photographs of the unusual disguise on social media, where they quickly attracted widespread attention.
The disguise was part of a road safety campaign
According to the Dunellen Police Department, the officer was not hiding in the ghillie suit to issue tickets. Instead, the disguise formed part of a public awareness campaign designed to highlight the dangers of distracted driving. Officers said they had repeatedly witnessed motorists looking down at their smartphones in a busy area with heavy traffic and pedestrian activity. By disguising an officer as a roadside tree, they hoped to deliver a memorable message that drivers should always expect enforcement and keep their focus on the road.
