the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, Senator Anthony M. Bucco said a slew of stories of teenagers causing mayhem up and down the Jersey Shore this summer demonstrate that Governor Phil Murphy went overboard with new restrictions on police that deter and prevent them from taking action to enforce the law and keep neighborhoods safe.
“From Monmouth to Cape May, we’ve seen what happens when you strip police of the power to hold teenagers and young adults accountable for breaking the law,” said Bucco (R-25). “Kids have no fear of smoking pot, drinking, or breaking other laws in public when they know police can do little more than issue toothless warnings. It’s only going to get worse as more kids realize that Governor Murphy has given them a free pass until they turn 21.”
Earlier this year, Governor Murphy signed a cannabis law that includes a provision that a law enforcement officer is guilty of the third-degree crime of Official Deprivation of Rights if, during the course of an investigation of suspected underage possession of alcohol or marijuana, the officer knowingly, but not necessarily intentionally, violates any of the new procedural requirements mandated by the new law.
For example, an officer accused of detaining a person longer than necessary to investigate a complaint, which is a subjective determination in many cases, may be sentenced to between three and five years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
Previously, to convict an officer of the crime of Official Deprivation of Civil Rights, the officer’s unlawful conduct must have been carried out with the purpose to intimidate or discriminate against a person or group of persons because of race, color, religion, gender, handicap, sexual orientation or ethnicity.
Now, with the recent enactments, a much lower threshold applies when the officer is interacting with a person believed to be violating the underage possession law, making it much easier to charge officers even if their behavior was not intentional or discriminatory.
“When Governor Murphy’s new laws threaten police with serious criminal charges and jail time if they make a single misstep when dealing with a minor, it’s no wonder officers are saying they feel handcuffed and can do little more but watch the mayhem,” said Bucco. “Well, there’s something the Legislature can and must do to remedy this.”
Bucco sponsors legislation (S-3577) with Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13) that restores the higher and more appropriate threshold for a law enforcement officer to be found guilty of Official Deprivation of Civil Rights.
“When our residents voted ‘yes’ to legalize marijuana, they didn’t vote to criminalize the police,” added Bucco. “They didn’t vote to let kids run wild. Real leaders wouldn’t be afraid to look at what’s happened over the past few weeks and say we need to make some adjustments to the new law. The bill we’ve proposed is one part of the solution. Let’s go back to Trenton to fix this mess.”
Looks a lot like Paterson
Cape Cod….that’s how I solve that problem.
Seems like bad parenting to be honest, shame these parents can’t keep their own kids in line, would save the police a lot of paperwork and taxpayers a lot of dollars. Doesn’t really seem like a Murphy issue or political issue, we probably shouldn’t be detaining minors for anything short of violent crime. I know James gets confused easily and thinks everything has to do with politics, the writers mind may be warped in its advanced age.
These undesirables are running to Jersey shore. It started at Seaside, then went to point Pleasant, and now they’re running wild. What a shame. That’s why I go down to Cape May nice and clean and quiet. Dirtbags not allowed.
When Police authorities are prohibited from enforcing the law, we can expect chaos and disorder. Where in the world can you find that kind of mindset of the officials running the government? Nowhere. When there’s no law and order, there will be no peace and progress in that place.
A picture is worth 1000 words.
Right. Poor cops they are Losing so much power.
Dumb democrats
This behavior would not be tolerated on LBI, whatever Murphy has to say! (If I’m wrong…..GOD HELP US!)
You take parents rights to discipline their own children. You take the rights of officers 👮♀️ 👮🏾♂️ Who cannot search the children and call their parents when they’ve got drugs or have alcohol on them. I blame the whole government for these issues! Kids today feel they are entitled and act like entitled brats! They’ve turned our children into 😿 yes I said it! I am thankful I raised respectful kids who say thank you, please, your welcome and hold the door for people! Not kids who run Amok and get into trouble and have no respect for their elders! Discipline is not abuse! It’s only abuse when you do it out of anger! And you ask your kids if they know why they are being disciplined if they don’t know the answer you explain it to them. And you always reinforce it with telling them you love them! It’s heart breaking to see America falling apart! We need to do something about these issues! Give back the power to the parents and the police!!!
Not tolerated in LBI?
It’s just as much as a Shiite hole as ANY jersey shore town.
OMG! We’ve never seen this before!!! I remember as a senior in 1986 the teenage craziness at Seaside. This is the result of a new law? Please. Use some common sense.
It must be the thongs… they’re cutting off blood supply to the brain 🙂