ASSEMBLY, No. 1783

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED MARCH 25, 1996

 

 

By Assemblyman GEIST, Assemblywoman CRECCO and Assemblyman T.Smith

 

 

An Act granting jurisdiction to park police to enforce laws throughout the State and amending R.S.40:37-155, R.S.40:37-203, P.L.1960, c.135 and P.L.1962, c.120.

 

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

    1. Section 1 of P.L.1962, c.120 (C.40:37-95.41) is amended to read as follows:

    1. The chief and officers of the park police may arrest on view and without warrant, and conduct before the municipal court of the municipality in which the arrest is made, or the municipal court of a neighboring municipality, any person found violating the rules and regulations enacted by the commission for the protection, preservation, regulation and control of the park, parkways, playgrounds and recreation places and all property therein, and in addition while on or off duty anywhere within the territorial limits of the [county] State, shall have the same powers for the enforcement of the laws of this State and the apprehension of violators thereof as are conferred by law upon police officers or constables.

(cf: P.L.1969, c.168, s.1)

 

    2. R.S.40:37-155 is amended to read as follows:

    40:37-155. The members and officers of the park police may arrest on view and without warrant, and take before a court having local criminal jurisdictions of the municipality in which the arrest is made, or of a neighboring municipality, any person found violating the rules and regulations enacted by the commission for the protection, preservation, regulation and control of the parks and parkways, and all property and other things therein. Such members and officers while on or off duty anywhere within the territorial limits of the [county] State, shall have the same powers for the enforcement of the laws of


this State and the apprehension of violators thereof as are conferred by law upon police officers or constables.

(cf: 1969, c.165, s.1)

 

    3. R.S.40:37-203 is amended to read as follows:

    40:37-203. The members and officers of the park police may arrest on view and without warrant, and conduct before the nearest police magistrate of the municipality in which the arrest is made, or a police magistrate of a neighboring municipality, any persons found violating the rules and regulations enacted by the commission for the protection, preservation, regulation and control of the parks and parkways, and all property and other things therein, and in addition while on or off duty anywhere within the territorial limits of the [county] State, shall have the same powers for the enforcement of the laws of this State and the apprehension of violators thereof as are conferred by law upon police officers or constables.

(cf: P.L.1969, c.167, s.1)

 

    4. Section 2 of P.L.1960, c.135 (C.40:37-262) is amended to read as follows:

    2. The members and officers of the park police may arrest on view and without warrant, and conduct before the municipal court of the municipality in which the arrest is made, or the municipal court of a neighboring municipality, any persons found violating the rules and regulations adopted by the board of chosen freeholders for the protection, preservation, regulation and control of the parks and parkways, and all property and other things therein, and in addition while on or off duty anywhere within the territorial limits of the [county] State, shall have the same powers for the enforcement of the laws of this State and the apprehension of violators thereof as are conferred by law upon police officers or constables.

(cf: P.L.1969, c.166, s.1)

 

    5. This act shall take effect six months after enactment.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

    This bill would expand the jurisdiction of park police officers. Currently park police officers have jurisdiction to enforce park rules and regulations, within parks, and have full police powers to enforce State laws while on duty within the county where they are employed. This bill would allow park police officers to enforce State laws throughout the entire State, whether on or off duty.

    Park police officers must complete the State-certified police training which all other police officers must complete. In this day of heightened criminal activity it is prudent to grant these fully trained officers jurisdiction to enforce the laws throughout the State.

 

 

 

Expands park police jurisdiction.