The 'thin blue line' represents police officers' role as the dividing line between peace and chaos.
There's a blue line spreading in New Jersey downtowns. It has appeared in the space between the double yellow line running down main streets, in parks and even county roads. Often, it runs right by a police station.
"I see communities start to paint that blue line, and it's a simple thing," Mahwah Mayor Bill Laforet said before the township painted one in front of the police station Wednesday. "It's a chance for the community to say something about how we value the police department."
The trend is especially catching on in Bergen County and other North Jersey communities, but townships and boroughs all around the state are painting the line to show support for police.
What does the line stand for?
As many across the country rush to show their support for police in the wake of shootings targeting officers, the thin blue line is showing up more and more. In addition to paint on the street, it's on T-shirts, wristbands, and flags.
The thin blue line flag. Traditionally, the line represents the role law enforcement serves, standing between law-abiding citizens and the criminal element.
But Rodney J. Sawyer, police chief of Mantua Township in Gloucester County, said the blue line painted in Chestnut Branch Park also stands for camaraderie and unity between officers, among other things.
"It stands in support of a profession that in recent months has come under fire and attacked as a symbol of conspiracy, cover ups, and accused of racist behavior," he said in an email. "It represents the solidarity displayed within the profession when a Law Enforcement Officer makes the ultimate sacrifice... It is the thin blue line in the midst of tragedy that rushes in as others rush out."
Some towns have also painted red lines to honor firefighters, but there are different ideas about how to support EMTs and paramedics. In Bergen County, Glen Rock used white paint, while Dumont opted for green.
Does it cost anything?
Many communities are using their own time and resources to do the work, but the projects generally aren't too time-consuming.
In Mahwah, Mayor Bill Laforet said, the cost was minimal because the township has its own line striping machine and staff to run it, plus plenty of blue paint on hand to mark handicap spaces.
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The South Jersey communities of Mantua, Eastampton and Woolwich contacted Zone Striping Inc. of Glassboro to have the work done. Owner Paul Mitchell told officials they'd do the job for free.
With the cost of union labor, supplies and equipment, the jobs would usually cost around $1,000, he said. A fourth community wanted to paint a very long stripe, he said, so he offered to do it at cost.
Mitchell said he's not advertising the offer and isn't doing it for business reasons. "I just thought it was a good thing," he said.
Is it legal?
For safety's sake, public road markings are supposed to be uniform so drivers know what to do, even if they're not from town.
But mostly, the rules are not explicit about whether anything can go between the double yellow line. The call is up to whoever is in charge of the road -- the state, the county or the municipality.
Bergen County officials are giving permission to paint the blue lines on county roads, but Mitchell said several South Jersey communities he worked with couldn't get permission from the counties to do the same.
In Mantua, Chief Sawyer said town officials opted to paint in Chestnut Branch Park so the township's public roads would "remain compliant" with the Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
The manual says a no-passing zone should be designated by "two normal solid yellow lines." The space between the lines isn't mentioned, but the manual does say that the markings "shall resemble" the diagrams in the manual, none of which show anything between the lines.
Is everyone behind this?
Usually, when community officials announce the painting of the blue stripe on social media or in the news, residents' comments are overwhelmingly positive.
If there are detractors, most question that the addition of a blue line is legal, or whether taxpayers footed the bill. But a few have mentioned that the blue line could alienate some residents or visitors.
NorthJersey.com reported that when the idea came up in Closter, Councilman Brian Stabile said the polarized sentiment in the country now is that one can either support Black Lives Matter or Blue Lives Matter, and the wisest thing would be to "not choose a side right now."
Stabile declined to speak with NJ Advance Media about the issue because the council has not formally discussed the topic.
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NorthJersey.com reported Stabile said that as a predominantly white, affluent community, they may not see the line through the same "prism" as others.
"We're a town that's less than 5 percent black and there is a major national race issue in this country. The prism of the nation right now says that if you put a blue line there, you are a racist," Stabile said at the council meeting, as reported by NorthJersey.com.
Asked whether he was concerned the blue line in Mahwah may mean something divisive or negative to some people, Laforet said, "Our steadfast support of our police department rises above politics. You can have an opinion either way, but we support them."
Chief Sawyer said that there are "bad apples" in every field, but police officers "get it right a lot more than we get it wrong."
Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook.