Police Are Dressing Up as Bushes to Catch Distracted Drivers

Somebody call the Quad Cities Bush Man. These officers might hire him for a stakeout.

This Police Officer literally became a bush to catch distracted drivers.

The Bush Police

Police in Dunellen, New Jersey, found a creative way to remind drivers to put their phones down by having one officer dress up in a full camouflage ghillie suit, making him look more like a shrub than a police officer.

The department had some fun with the stunt on social media, joking that anyone glued to their phone probably didn't even notice the "shrub" watching them.

Before anyone assumed officers were hiding in bushes all day, police quickly cleared things up. The costume was mainly for the social media photo and to grab people's attention. The real goal was to highlight a serious issue: distracted driving.

Another officer even joined the operation wearing a T-shirt that read, "Not a Cop."

How Many Distracted Drivers Did They Catch?

Despite the lighthearted approach, the results were no joke. During a six-hour enforcement effort, officers handed out 74 citations to drivers caught breaking the law.

Police say they continue to see people doing everything from following GPS directions while holding their phones to making FaceTime calls behind the wheel. Some drivers were even spotted gripping their phones with both hands while steering with their knees.

Officials say the town may only cover about one square mile, but it sees a surprising number of crashes. They hope the unusual campaign gets people talking and, more importantly, gets drivers to keep both hands on the wheel instead of on their phones.

Next time you pass what looks like an ordinary bush, it might just be watching to see if you're texting.