NJ’s Motor Vehicle Code prohibits occupants from riding in unsafe places, and that most certainly includes the bucket of a bucket truck.
Lyndhurst-area driver and Redditor /u/Bloddy_Boogers shared interesting dashcam footage from earlier in March (Mar 11, 2026) showing a utility worker, perhaps emergency services, riding in the bucket of a bucket truck as it drove by him.
Check out the head-scratcher of a dashcam clip below with the original Reddit thread linked here.
The incident happened at the intersection of Stuyvesant Ave and Valley Brook Ave. (Exact location on Google Maps linked here.)
As the dashcam shows, OP is headed northbound down Stuyvesant when he stops at the aforementioned intersection.
Suddenly, a driver in a mid-late ’90s Chevrolet/GMC Utility Truck with a bucket in the rear comes driving by him.
Keen eyes will notice, however, that a utility worker in a high-vis shirt is riding in the bucket of the bucket truck, bouncing along as it crosses the intersection.
At the very least, it looks like the worker is strapped in.
Riding in the bucket of a moving truck would likely fall under Title 39 violations of the Motor Vehicle Code, specifically N.J.S.A. 39:4-92 (“Occupants to be seated; no riding on running boards, fenders, or other unsafe places”).
It states that no person shall ride on any part of a vehicle not designed for passengers, which includes bucket truck buckets, while the vehicle is moving on a public road.
“It looks like he has his safety tether attached. Let’s hope it’s short enough that he’s not dragged on the ground if they hit a big dip that bounces him out 😉 (but really, this doesn’t seem like a good idea at all)” one of the top comments from /u/the_woodenpickle reads.
“I’ve always wanted to do that. It’s on my bucket list,” /u/ennuiui huymoursly adds (did you see what they did there?)
“Yeah, you WILL definitely get fired for riding in the bucket,” /u/QiDeviation cautioned.
In New Jersey, violating N.J.S.A. 39:4-92 by riding in a bucket truck while it’s moving can result in a fine of about $50–$100. Typically, no motor vehicle points are added to the rider, but the driver could face points if cited for allowing an unsafe passenger. Repeated or egregious violations could lead to higher fines or additional safety-related charges.
