LONG BRANCH, NJ – In New Jersey, there are few consequences for criminals who steal cars. That’s due to policies enacted by progressive Democrat Governor Phil Murphy and his political allies in the New Jersey legislature.
If you employ juveniles to steal cars for you, there are even fewer consequences.
Governor Murphy’s sweeping criminal justice reform has tipped the cards in the favor of the criminals and today, he will be meeting with his close political ally Democrat Senator Vin Gopal in Asbury Park to sign a few bills into law that will give the illusion of attempting to right the wrongs of the Democrat party’s soft-on-crime stance in New Jersey.
The new measures are not likely to curb the rampant rate of vehicle theft in Garden State because they focus only on repeat offenders.
One bill will stiffen penalties for car thieves who use motor vehicle master keys or devices or start a motor vehicle without a key, subject to prosecution under N.J.S.2C:5-6 as a crime of the fourth degree. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.
A second bill establishes separate statutory provisions for the existing crimes of theft of a motor vehicle and knowingly receiving stolen property that is a motor vehicle and provides for extended sentences for certain persistent offenders.
The key words in the bill are ‘persistent offenders,’ meaning those changes won’t kick in until the perpetrators have already stolen a few cars.
The final bill eliminates the presumption of pretrial release for defendants charged with certain motor vehicle theft offenses if the defendant was arrested or convicted of a prior motor vehicle theft offense within the 90-day period preceding the charge.
Auto thefts in New Jersey are being run by criminal rings that maintain a stable of car thieves, most minors. Now, under these laws, the thieves in the stable will have to sit out 90 days after being caught before getting back on the job.
The bills appear to be nothing more than a media opportunity for Gopal, who is facing a challenge in this year’s general election.