TRENTON, N.J. — Republican state senators Joe Pennacchio and Bob Singer are criticizing Democratic lawmakers for failing to act on a bill they say could have prevented violence that erupted over Memorial Day weekend at the Jersey Shore.
The two senators released a joint statement Wednesday expressing frustration that legislation they introduced last year aimed at deterring rioting and mob violence has not advanced in the Democrat-led Legislature.
“What happened at the Shore over Memorial Day weekend was exactly what we warned about a year ago when we introduced legislation to address this kind of lawlessness,” said Pennacchio. “We gave Trenton a roadmap to prevent this, and they ignored it.”
Singer echoed the criticism, pointing to the potential long-term impact on New Jersey’s multi-billion-dollar tourism industry. “Our Shore economy is too valuable to gamble with,” he said. “We introduced a bill to give local governments and law enforcement the tools they need to prevent this kind of disruption, and it sat untouched.”
Legislation seeks stricter penalties
The bill in question, S-399, would expand the legal definition of a riot, increase penalties for crimes committed during riots, and establish new criminal categories, including mob intimidation and cyber-intimidation by publication. The measure would also clarify that municipalities must permit law enforcement to respond appropriately during public disturbances.
Pennacchio and Singer first proposed a version of the bill, S-3992, during the 2020–2021 legislative session. The latest version has not been posted for a hearing or moved through committee.
The senators argue that the recent Shore violence is evidence of why the legislation is urgently needed. No specific incidents from the weekend were cited in their release.
Two New Jersey GOP senators say Shore violence shows urgent need for stalled riot legislation.
