In a press conference a day before Election Day, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin said legislative leaders had received “the clear message” New Jersey residents wanted tougher laws for those involved with stolen car rings.
Coughlin was part of a contingent of lawmakers and law enforcement officials on hand Nov. 7 for Gov. Phil Murphy’s announcement on legislative steps to combat auto thefts that have plagued the state over the last year.
Murphy said while earlier steps had reduced thefts by 14% in September and 12% in October from each of those months a year ago, more was needed to break a cycle that has seen juveniles being used by ring leaders.
Previous Actions
“I am grateful for the collaborative work that has been done across government in partnership with law enforcement at the state and local levels to combat crime in our state,” said Murphy.
Murphy credited the reduction due to earlier measures, including the revision of police pursuit policy to explicitly permit the pursuit of stolen cars, $10 million investment in automated license plate recognition technology to reduce violent crime and auto theft in New Jersey through the federal American Rescue Plan (ARP), allocating resources to grow the Auto Theft Task Force (ATTF) that included additional detectives and prosecutors to the ATTF, and a $125,000 federal Justice Assistance Grant funds that bolster the resources and capabilities of the ATTF, including law enforcement personnel and equipment purchases.
“(These) steps will strengthen this administration’s efforts to reverse the uptick in vehicle theft we have witnessed over the past few years,” said Murphy.
New Measures
The new measures are a combination of new legislation, reforms to current ones and new initiatives with the state’s motor vehicle commission. The steps being offered by the governor’s office include:
- Establishing a persistent auto theft offender statute, which would give state and local prosecutors the option to seek more serious criminal consequences for those who have been repeatedly found guilty of stealing cars.
- Making possession and distribution of certain auto theft tools a crime.
- Imposing criminal penalties for the failure to comply with certain guidelines in the sale and purchase of catalytic converters.
- And investing in enhanced pretrial services, which will reduce the risk from individuals who are awaiting trial that includes pretrial monitoring by law enforcement, the expansion of the use of house arrest paired with location monitoring, and providing additional resources related to substance abuse, mental health, and housing insecurity.
The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) will start working to add a checkbox to vehicle registration paperwork allowing residents to “opt in” to a program that automatically permits law enforcement to track participating registered vehicles using their navigational systems if a vehicle is ever stolen.
Public Information Campaign
Additionally, MVC will focus on messaging the importance to new drivers of safely handling key fobs by not leaving them inside the car or stored in their home too close to the car.
“We also ask that our residents take additional measures to protect themselves from auto theft,” the governor said. “If you cannot park your car in a closed and locked garage, make sure that your vehicle is locked and that the key fob is with you.”
The issue of crime, and especially auto thefts, has been one that North Jersey lawmakers and those running for office have centered on in the closing days of the election. The Assembly Speaker said as much when he spoke at the podium.
Message from Voters
“People are sending us a clear message that this is something that they are truly worried about,” said Coughlin. “We realized this is a challenge to every community in the state and puts people at risk….In fact we all read about the house across the street from the Governor’s being a target of a car theft. We must double down on this to make it end.”
Murphy referenced besides state actions, federal authorities last week broke up a nationwide catalytic converter thefts ring, announcing raids and arrests from California to New Jersey on Nov. 2 to break up a network of thieves, dealers and processors that netted hundreds of millions of dollars from the fast-growing crime.
Authorities charged 21 defendants from five states in indictments with three locations raided with the help of New Jersey State Police in New Jersey—Holmdel, Freehold and Wrightstown. Authorities said they executed more than 32 search warrants and seized millions of dollars in homes, bank accounts, cash and luxury vehicles.
Threats to Communities
“Auto theft not only victimizes the owner of the vehicle, but it can also victimize the whole community. Stolen vehicles are often used in the commission of crimes and can be found driving recklessly on our roadways creating a dangerous environment for everyone,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “ Those resources added with the new legislative and administrative steps shows this state’s commitment to supporting not only law enforcement but it’s commitment to the safety of all New Jersey residents.”
State Senate President Nicholas Scutari (D-22) said it is crucial legislative leaders take additional steps to deter car thieves and support police departments throughout the state.
“These crimes are especially disturbing because they’re so close to home. Criminals are stealing cars right out of people’s driveways and garages,” Scutari stated. “The alarming increase in auto thefts threatens the property and the safety of New Jersey residents in their communities.”
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