Moriarty and Hutchison Bill to Establish Additional Penalties for Parents and Legal Guardians for Conduct Related to Public Brawl Passes Committee

Senator Moriarty and Assemblyman Hutchison's bill, S3508/A4651,  to impose consequences on the parents and legal guardians who have displayed a willful disregard for the supervision and control of minors involved in public brawls or disorderly conduct, passed the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee. 

Senator Moriarty and Assemblyman Hutchison’s bill, now law, S3507/A4652, made inciting a public brawl a serious offense. Although this law holds perpetrators accountable, S3508 seeks to put an end to the root causes of this behavior. 

S-3508 would allow municipal judges to fine or charge parents and legal guardians with a petty disorderly or disorderly persons offense in the event that they displayed willful or wanton disregard in the exercise of supervision and control of a minor who committed disorderly conduct that resulted in property damage or a public brawl. 

If they are found guilty, a parent or a legal guardian could be subject to the following penalties:



a)   A fine of $1,000 if the minor committed an act of disorderly conduct that resulted in property damage;

b)   A conviction of petty disorderly persons offense if the minor committed an act of inciting a public brawl as a first offense; or 

c)   A conviction of disorderly persons offense if the minor committed an act of inciting a public brawl as a second or subsequent offense. 

The bill would take effect immediately and would complement existing bills to put a stop to disruptive behavior that results in public brawls, property damage, and injuries.