Small towns object to N.J. police fees

Philadelphia Inquirer reports:

For nearly 90 years, state troopers have patrolled rural New Jersey, responding to medical emergencies, car crashes and burglar alarms.

So when state officials detailed their plans last week to begin charging towns for the service, the reaction was largely anger and, in some communities, confusion.

In Mansfield, which the state wants to bill $264,000 for what it considers "full-time" police patrols, administrator Joseph Broski said the town hadn't relied on state police for two years.

"I guess the state of New Jersey still hasn't caught on that we don't use their services," Broski said.