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       A blue line has appeared in central New Jersey. It runs between double yellow lines on major highways, in parks, and even on local roads. Often, it runs right next to a police station.
       “I saw the residents start painting the blue line, and it was easy,” Mahwah Mayor Bill Laforette said Wednesday before painting a blue line in front of the police station. “This is an opportunity for the residents to show how much we value our police.”
       The trend is especially popular in Bergen County and other northern New Jersey communities, but towns and neighborhoods across the state are forming lines to show support for police.
       As many people across the country express support for police following shootings, the blue cordon is becoming more common – in addition to being painted on streets, it is also printed on T-shirts, wristbands and flags.
       Traditionally, this line represents the role of law enforcement agencies standing between law-abiding citizens and criminals.
       However, Gloucester County Mantua Police Chief Rodney J. Sawyer said the blue line painted in Chestnut Branch Park also symbolizes camaraderie and unity among officers.
       “It symbolizes a law enforcement profession that has been criticized and attacked in recent months as a symbol of conspiracy, cover-ups, and racist behavior,” he wrote in an email. “It symbolizes the solidarity that law enforcement officers demonstrate in making the ultimate sacrifice… It is a fine line in tragedy, with some rushing in and others rushing out.”
       Some cities have also painted red lines to honor firefighters, but opinions are divided on how to honor EMTs and paramedics. In Bergen County, Glen Rock used white paint, while Dumont used green.
       Many communities use their own time and resources to complete the work, but such projects generally do not require much time.
       Mahwah Mayor Bill Laforet said the cost is low because the city has its own road marking machines and operators, as well as plenty of blue paint to mark handicapped spaces.
       The southern New Jersey communities of Mantua, Easthampton and Woolwich approached Zone Striping of Glassboro to do the work, and company owner Paul Mitchell told officials they would do the work for free.
       The cost of the work is typically about $1,000, he said, including union labor, supplies and equipment. The fourth community wanted to paint a very long strip, so he offered to do it at cost, he added.
       Mitchell said he was not advertising the proposal or having any commercial intent. “I just thought it was a good idea,” he said.
       For safety reasons, public road markings should be uniform so that drivers know what to do even if they are not driving outside the city.
       However, in most cases, the rules do not specify whether double yellow lines are allowed. The final decision is made by whoever manages the road — the state, county, or municipality.
       Bergen County officials allow blue lines to be painted on county roads, but Mitchell said several South Jersey communities he has worked with have been unable to obtain permits from counties.
       In Mantua, Mayor Sawyer said the city decided to paint Chestnut Branch Park to ensure the city’s public roads “continue to comply” with the Federal Highway Administration’s Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
       The manual states that the no-overtaking zone should be marked by “two normal solid yellow lines”. The manual does not specify the distance between the lines, but states that the markings “should be similar” to the diagrams in the manual, however, these diagrams do not show anything between the lines.
       Typically, when members of the public announce the application of blue stripes on social media or in the news, the comments from residents are overwhelmingly positive.
       Even among those who opposed it, most questioned the Blue Line’s legality and that taxpayers should bear the costs, though some also noted that it could alienate some residents or tourists.