A New Jersey Shore Town Wants to Make Standing Next to Cars Illegal
I get the intent behind this proposed law, but is it realistic?
Car theft has become a serious concern for New Jerseyans. According to our sister station, NJ101.5, car theft has increased by 20% in the last few years. A town in Monmouth County is taking an interesting approach to tighten up car theft laws, and hopefully put an end to this problem.
The article explains that Holmdel Township in Monmouth County has proposed a law that would make it illegal to open, unlock, or remain within 20 feet of a car that you don't own, or have permission to access. There's a $1,000 fine for first offenders and a $2,000 fine for further violations. Offenders can also face up to 90 days in prison.
For me, it's a case of good intent, but questionable delivery. New Jersey does need to focus on combatting car theft; however, I'm unsure how realistic this approach is.
How many cops are available to monitor private driveways? Proving ownership of a car is easy, but how can someone prove they're allowed to access someone else's car? How would these rules apply to rental cars?
Per NJ101.5, the Holmdel Township committee was supposed to vote on the proposal yesterday, December 13th. As of right now, on the morning of December 14th, I haven't seen any outcome.
What are your thoughts about this proposed law? Are you even worried about car theft? Do you think there are better measures our state can put in place to protect people from getting their cars stolen or broken into?