'We mean business': NJ bill to increase penalties for people who incite brawls at public events

By Michael Dougherty, KYW News Radio

NEW JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey lawmakers have passed a bill that upgrades penalties for people who ruin public events, festivals and carnivals by inciting huge brawls.

Fights like the one that broke out at Gloucester Township Day last year inspired this legislation. Bill sponsor state Sen. Paul Moriarty wants to spread the word that unruly teens and people looking for trouble will get more than they bargained for.

“This bill makes inciting a public brawl a fourth-degree crime, punishable by up to 18 months in prison,” he said.

Moriarty says police asked him for more tools to counter these incidents. He says the new offense of inciting a public brawl should help, but not everyone has received the message.

“Already, police are seeing all sorts of chatter surrounding some upcoming events where people are sharing the event online and talking about meeting there and going at it,” he said.

The legislation also enhances penalties for people who wear masks and try to conceal their identities.

“We mean business. They could have serious penalties. This is not going to be a traffic ticket, a slap on the wrist. These will be charges that you need to go to court for and you could go to jail for,” Moriarty said.

The bill just needs Gov. Phil Murphy’s signature to become law.