The New Jersey State Legislature approved legislation requiring all police departments in the state to equip patrol cars with in-car cameras; however, the bill stalled when it reached the desk of Governor Chris Christie.
The bill, A2280, was sponsored by Washington Township Assemblyman Paul Moriarty. Moriarty was inspired to sponsor the legislation after his 2012 DWI charges were dismissed. Footage from a police cruiser video proved vital in getting the bogus charges dismissed; the footage showed several discrepancies between the incident and what the arresting officer wrote in his report.
Bill A2280 received bipartisan support as it was approved by both the Assembly and the Senate earlier this year. After being sent to Gov. Christie for approval, it stalled when Christie failed to either sign or veto it. Although a bill typically becomes law after 45 days of inaction by the governor, a little-known clause in the state constitution grants Christie another opportunity to consider A2280.
According to a spokesman for the governor, Christie intends to “review” the bill. Christie already pocket-vetoed the legislation earlier this year.
If the bill becomes law, all municipal police departments in New Jersey would need to install cameras in police patrol cars. The cameras would be used to record all traffic stops by the police.
Although in-car cameras could potentially be used by defendants in criminal cases to prove their innocence, supporters of A2280 argue that cameras would benefit the police by providing officers with irrefutable evidence when faced with allegations of police misconduct or abuse.
For more information, read the NJ.com article entitled “Police Camera Bill, Spurred by Moriarty DWI Arrest, Stalled at Christie’s Desk.”
