After a community event in South Jersey turned into a chaotic situation, lawmakers have introduced a series of public safety bills. The incident has prompted officials to take action and address the need for increased safety measures. Danielle Heminghaus reported the news for New Jersey Monitor.
Several bills have been introduced by lawmakers with the objective of curbing disorderly gatherings and imposing fines on parents of juvenile offenders. This move comes after a community event in South Jersey turned into chaos, according to the police.
Assemblyman Dan Hutchison (D-Camden) expressed his concern about the drug problem in Gloucester Township and stated, “When it hits home in Gloucester Township, then it was like, ‘OK, that’s enough.’ We got to do something about it.” He emphasized the need to take action and make an effort to bring about change, which was the driving force behind their initiative.
Teenagers and young adults have been flocking to boardwalks and beaches in Jersey Shore towns for parties organized on popular social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. However, this trend has caused a great deal of concern for local authorities as it leads to overcrowding and rowdy behavior. In fact, during Memorial Day, the Wildwood police had to declare a state of emergency and shut down the city’s boardwalk due to reports of “civil unrest.” Moreover, in Ocean City, a 15-year-old was stabbed on the boardwalk during the same weekend. These incidents have raised serious safety concerns for both locals and tourists visiting the area.
Senator Hutchison is sponsoring a bill that aims to establish the offense of inciting a public brawl. The proposed legislation further allows law enforcement officials to prosecute individuals for disorderly conduct in case they intentionally disrupt or disturb a public gathering or event.
If someone starts a public brawl, they could face serious consequences including a fourth-degree offense. This could result in a hefty fine of up to $10,000 and a potential 18-month prison sentence. Essentially, the charge would be similar to participating in a riot and should not be taken lightly.
Hutchison is sponsoring a bill that could impose fines or jail time on parents and legal guardians who display “willful or wanton disregard” for minors under their supervision who engage in delinquent behavior.
According to Hutchison, who is a father of four, determining whether parents are guilty of this offense may pose a challenge for judges. Nevertheless, he firmly believes that the courts will find a way to handle it.
As a parent, turning a blind eye is not an option. According to him, there must be consequences for such actions.
Assemblyman Cody Miller, a Democrat from Gloucester, is taking the lead in sponsoring a crucial bill. The proposed legislation aims to direct the Attorney General’s Office to establish a crowd management training program. This program will be made available to law enforcement officers in municipalities that have witnessed at least two flash mobs or pop-up parties in the preceding year. The bill emphasizes the need for adequate resources to be provided to the police to manage such events effectively.
According to Miller, who serves as a volunteer firefighter, these occurrences not only deplete local resources but also pose a serious threat to public safety.
He expressed his discontent with having to cancel events due to the possibility of a flash mob or public brawl. He believes that it is not acceptable to be in such a position and that it should not have to come to that.
Senator Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester) has introduced companions to the three bills in the Senate during the last week of June.
