Legislation sponsored by Assemblymen Angel Fuentes and Gilbert L. “Whip” Wilson and Sen. Donald Norcross that aims to give law enforcement enhanced tools to effectively combat drug crime received final legislative approval on Thursday. The bill (A-2416) unanimously passed the Assembly in September and was unanimously approved 40-0 by the Senate on Thursday.
The measure sponsored by the 5th Legislative District legislators would give a law enforcement officer or prosecuting attorney, under certain circumstances, the ability to apply for a restraining order against a person who is charged with a criminal offense but released without being detained.
This would fill a gap in the current system and would allow authorities to prevent an individual from returning to the scene where the offense occurred, as well as a buffer around that area. The sponsors said it would especially help combat drug crimes.
“It is too easy for individuals being charged with a crime, particularly crimes related to drugs and drug violence, to return to the same places and people that facilitate this behavior,” said Fuentes (D-Camden/Gloucester). “If we want to stop a drug dealer from harming our community, we cannot just work to take away their product. We also want to take away the street corner, the school yard and the store front where they push their poison on our children and our vulnerable.”
“This is a needed change,” said Wilson (D-Camden/Gloucester). “A drug dealer needs access to users, and by denying them their usual haunts and removing them from their comfort zone, we force them into the light and send a message that we won’t tolerate the evil they bring to our neighborhoods. We won’t stand idly.”
“We must give law enforcement the tools they need to keep our streets clean,” said Norcross (D-Camden/Gloucester). “Drug dealers don’t care about the communities they harm, the lives they ruin, and the violence they bring to our neighborhoods. Every street corner we take away from a drug dealer is a street corner we reclaim for honest, hardworking citizens.” TLS.
A drug dealer already ignored a boat-load of laws by drug dealing to begin with…
What makes these Democrats think he’s magically going to listen to a piece of paper telling him he cant come back to a certain area?
Is it just me or are democrats some of the dumbest people on planet earth?
GPS. That would be the “enhanced protection system” of choice. You know where the grunge is… if he’s in the perimeter, back in custody, no bail.
#2 Amazing! I have GPS on my $39.00 phone so how much could it cost for a device with less features that locks on an ankle (or nose ring, even better for visual id) which beeps and flashes LEDS. But then again remember the government paid $3000 for toilet seats. Bet that contractor was sittiing pretty. I guess I’m just one of those masters of the obvious rather than spinner of obscurity, B”H.
Mr. C – I couldn’t have said it any better.
Mr C
yea like gun laws , while I agree no criminals should be able to purchase firearms , do the really think someone bent on murder is going to buy a gun leagally so they can murder someone !!!!!!!!!!!
dont get me wrong i believe we should all own guns as the bad guy will always have one no matter how many laws there r about obtaining and owning one ul never hear about a shooting or a bank robery in israel as every 2nd or 3rd person there has a gun ud be mad to do something stupid with only a gun but this law is amazing here is some of the beuty bellow to understand:
1: those who think that hell go back to the corner ur wrong the cops know these corners verry well and can pick him back up with no problem
2: even better only someone who has a reason to go back to that corner will do so so if someone goes back hes obviously a bad egg
3: if someone does go back even though he might have gotten away with everything the time before without there being any proof of something illegal, the denial of the restraint order is enough to put a case against him and even lock him up without any proof of drugs ingenius i say and thank u to the lpd and everyone involved to help this law it will really help lakewoods violent areas