New Jersey Senate Bill S2948

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 6/29/22
• Refer: 6/29/22

Caption

Enables imposition of local curfew to help curtail disorderly or riotous conduct.

Impact

If enacted, S2948 would provide local authorities greater powers to maintain public order. This includes the ability to declare a local emergency and impose a curfew from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM for up to seven days, unless extended. Such measures would apply to geographical areas affected by the disorderly conduct, thereby potentially preventing escalation during times of civil unrest. However, the bill also necessitates that the Superintendent of State Police develop guidelines to delineate how law enforcement should handle such situations.

Summary

Senate Bill S2948, introduced in the New Jersey Legislature, aims to enhance the ability of municipalities to respond to disorderly conduct and riots by allowing local governments to impose curfews under specific circumstances. The bill stipulates that if five or more people are engaging in disorderly conduct that is likely to cause substantial harm, a peace officer can order them to disperse. If they do not comply, the officer must notify the mayor and chief of police, who will then assess the situation and determine if declaring a local emergency and imposing a curfew is necessary.

Contention

The bill has raised concerns regarding the balance between public safety and civil liberties. Critics argue that empowering local officials to impose curfews can lead to potential overreach and misuse of power, especially during peaceful protests that could be misclassified as disorderly conduct. Furthermore, the criteria for what constitutes a local emergency could be perceived as vague, allowing for arbitrary enforcement. Proponents of the bill assert that it is a necessary response to recent events where social media has been used to organize civil disturbances, thus ensuring that local law enforcement has the tools needed to protect citizens.