New Jersey’s Silver Alert System

Do you know what the "Silver Alert" system is?

I'm sure you've noticed that at times there's a sign on the Garden State Parkway or the Turnpike indicating that a Silver Alert has been issued, and you might not know what it means.

A Silver Alert is a public notification system in the United States to broadcast information about missing persons – especially senior citizens with Alzheimer's disease, dementia or other mental disabilities – in order to aid in their recovery.

The signs will indicate the make and model of car they were last seen driving and include the license plate number.

If you spot the car, you should call 911 to alert authorities.

The alert system is nationwide, with New Jersey joining on in the summer of 2010.

According to nj.com, on December 23, 2009, then Acting Gov. Richard Codey signed a law creating a system similar to the nationally recognized "Amber Alert" to locate missing people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive disorders.

Under the "Silver Alert" legislation, media outlets would release a description of the missing individual and contact information for the relevant law enforcement agencies.

The law requires the state Department of Transportation and highway authorities to inform the public through roadway message sign alerts if the missing person is driving when they vanish.