Pubdate: Tue, 19 Oct 2004
Source: Courier-Post (NJ)
Copyright: 2004 Courier-Post
Contact:  http://www.courierpostonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/826
Author: Richard Pearsall, Courier-Post Staff
Photo: 
http://cgi.courierpostonline.com/cgi-bin/gallerydisp.cgi?dir=schellbush101804&curr=7
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Jim+Miller (Jim Miller)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

VISIT CAUSES TRAFFIC TO BACK UP 3 HOURS BEFORE

EVESHAM

Traffic backed up on Tuckerton Road three hours before the president's
arrival, and one protester was arrested for disorderly conduct.

But by and large, "everything went fine," according to Capt. Frank
Locantore, of the Evesham Police Department.

Locantore said the arrest was for "obstructing traffic."

"He refused to get off the road," the captain said of the man. Evesham
Police Capt. Bill Cromie later identified him as James S. Miller, 52,
of Silverton, who was demanding the legalization of medical marijuana.
He was charged with disorderly conduct and issued a summons for a Nov.
8 court hearing.

"We'll have that tomorrow," the captain said. "He was asked to move
and was warned, but refused. I guess it was civil disobedience."

Police made a point of keeping people off the road while the president
was here, asking them to stay behind yellow tape, cross only at
designated areas and use the parking lot across from the recreation
field to travel up and down the road.

Traffic backed up early on Tuckerton Road as people with access to the
president's appearance, including invited guests and members of the
news media, were told to arrive early.

By 10:30 a.m, the traffic had begun to back up toward East Main Street
and was moving at a crawl.

The president arrived by helicopter, eliminating the additional tie-up
that a presidential motorcade would have entailed.

About 10:30 a.m., traffic stopped on Tuckerton Road to allow a group
of emergency vehicles and SUVs to proceed to the Big Blue Barn, the
hall where the president was to speak.

After the president's departure, traffic cleared relatively rapidly,
Locantore said, estimating that the area was cleared and roads
reopened by about 3:30 p.m.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake