Sometimes I wonder how dispatchers choose whether to use SPEN 1 or their own County Hotline Channel to broadcast. Recently, I heard Union Twp. on SPEN 1 alerting surrounding towns of a hi-jacked vehicle. I assume they use SPEN, when it affects towns in the next county over (Essex County in this case). For Union County, I normally only hear hotline transmissions on NJICS. I don't think they have any conventional channels, besides SPEN for this anymore. Correct me if I'm wrong.
I honestly think SPEN should somehow be simulcasted on NJICS or the State Police 800 system. This way it can be heard and perhaps "repeated" from further away. It is the whole point of interoperability. I also don't think every town monitors SPEN 24-7, like they are supposed to.