Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden) released the following statement today on Gov. Chris Christie’s decision to pocket veto legislation (A-4193 from 2012-13 session) he sponsored to require all new municipal police vehicles be equipped with cameras.
The bill came after Moriarty’s own personal experience.
Moriarty was charged with drunken driving and other charges in July 2012 in Washington Township, but Moriarty told police he had nothing to drink that day. Dashboard camera video from the officer’s car showed Moriarty did not cut off the officer, as the officer claimed, and showed Moriarty passing sobriety tests without problem.
The charges against Moriarty were dismissed in May, and the officer who filed the allegations has now been indicted on 14 criminal counts accusing him of making a false arrest of Moriarty and lying to support his claims:
“I’m deeply disappointed that Gov. Christie failed to act on my bill to require municipal police vehicles be equipped with video recording systems.
“It’s even more upsetting that the governor chose not to explain his reasoning behind not signing this bill designed to protect New Jerseyans and police officers alike.
“This bill is not something I just dreamed up off the top of my head. This bill, as many know, was based on my real life experience of being falsely charged with drunken driving, a situation that could have ruined my professional and political career if not for the recording device that rightly showed I was innocent. That device protected me that day. It showed the truth, and led to charges being filed against the police officer. Cameras don’t lie.
“But I know I was fortunate to have that camera there, and that many innocent New Jerseyans – and I must emphasize police officers, too – have not had the luxury of a video recording to clear their name of false charges.
“This bill was designed to change that and ensure the truth wins out in all disputes.
“Gov. Christie’s inaction means New Jerseyans and police officers remain unnecessarily at risk of being falsely prosecuted. That’s just not acceptable in this day and age.
“The cameras also would have been paid for with fees assessed against drunken drivers, so the taxpayers were protected.
“Despite my shock at the governor’s refusal to act on this bipartisan bill, I will not give up. I plan to reintroduce this bill and continue working hard to make it become law.” [TLS]
The veto was probably done because he is a Democrate!
this is another reason why Christie has lost my support. the first and foremost is how he simply allowed the port authority to raise tolls, without an audit. after the tolls were raised, an audit found gross over-spending. this guy is a closet liberal.
The bill really does seem to make sense.
I was & still am looking forward to a camera in every patrol car. this veto is very distressing! Cameras are valuable to drivers and police officers as well. a good reason that police cars should have cameras.is.Officer Chris Matlosz’ murder was recorded on his dashboard camera & helped convict his murderer. i installed a dashboard camera in my own car and recommend every car owner to do the same. Don’t be a victim of another driver or police officer who
falsely accuses you of causing an MVA or violating a traffic law!
I wonder what the Governor’s rationale was for the veto. This being a pocket veto (meaning that he neither endorsed the action nor actively voided it, but rather simply allowed it to lapse) he did not issue any accompanying statement.
Shall we wait to judge him until we hear his reasoning?
i have a dash-cam in my car, and so does mrs.conservatives car.
its a shame this bill was struck down. youtube is FILLED with video’s of officers abusing citizens… and guess what; none of those victims would ever see a penny if it was not for those video camera’s. youtube is also filled with video’s showing how violent someone can be towards an officer. often times thats all that is needed for a speedy trial. shame i tell ya!
Judging by what’s been exposed with the Christie organization, I wouldn’t doubt that his veto is due to the Senator being a Democrat. Christie has shown himself to be a typical NJ politician. His aggressive, ego driven actions are coming back to haunt him. This was a bi-partisan approved bill that had no negative aspects in it. There is no logical reason to veto it. Christie’s second term is proving to be a disaster and it is only days old.