Pennacchio & Singer Demand Action to Curb Violence at Jersey Shore

May 29, 2024

In the wake of the lawless, tragic weekend in Ocean City where a teenager was stabbed, Republican Senators Joe Pennacchio (R-26) and Robert Singer (R-30) are calling for immediate legislative action on a bill that will protect communities and empower police to prevent future incidents.

“The dreadful activity in Ocean City was completely out of control and totally unacceptable. It was yet another preventable incident, and it should never have happened, but the Legislature dropped the ball,” said Pennacchio. “Our bill would provide communities and law enforcement with the tools necessary to combat these riots. If it was passed when it was introduced, maybe we wouldn’t be worrying about the next ‘event’ that could erupt in violence, property damage and business interruption during the crucial summer season. This will continue to happen until the legislative leaders in Trenton step up.”

“Riots and vandalism will drive visitors away and devastate the summer season. As a state, we cannot afford that,” added Singer. “Make no mistake, these are not peaceful gatherings. Organizers solicit young people to come out and cause trouble. They create situations that are volatile and dangerous. Under our legislation, we can stop these riots before they get out of hand.”

The Republican lawmakers are calling on the Legislature to approve their bill following yet another chaotic weekend at the Jersey Shore in which a teenager was stabbed on the boardwalk in Ocean City, which was part of a larger riot that ended with multiple arrests.

The bill, S-399, takes the following steps to maintain order in New Jersey streets:

•    Expands the categories of riot to include aggravated riot, inciting a riot and aggravated inciting a riot.

•    A municipality has a duty to allow the municipal law enforcement agency to respond appropriately to protect persons and property during a riot or an unlawful assembly based on the availability of adequate equipment to its municipal law enforcement officers and relevant state and federal laws.

•    If the tentative budget of a municipality contains a funding reduction to the operating budget of the municipal law enforcement agency, the municipal attorney or a member of the governing body who objects to the funding reduction, may file an appeal to the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs within 30 days after the day the tentative budget is posted to the official website of the municipality.

•    If, during a riot, an object is thrown at certain emergency personnel including law enforcement officers, or if emergency personnel are struck, whether with an object or not, the presumption of non-imprisonment for a first offense of a crime of the third degree shall not apply, and a mandatory period of six months imprisonment shall apply.