Bill
Bill > AR37
NJ AR37
NJ AR37Urges Governor and Attorney General to provide assistance to municipalities in response to unpermitted mass gatherings and "pop-up parties" in New Jersey.
summary
Introduced
01/09/2024
01/09/2024
In Committee
01/09/2024
01/09/2024
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026
01/12/2026
Introduced Session
2024-2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This resolution urges the Governor and the Attorney General to take necessary measures to bolster municipalities' responses to unpermitted mass gatherings and "pop-up parties" across the State. Municipalities require special event permits for activities such as block parties, festivals, flea markets, carnivals, concerts, and non-spontaneous public demonstrations. The permitting process may require up to several months' notice to municipalities so they can effectively predict and adequately prepare the resources and personnel necessary to manage large crowds at particular events. Additionally, the permitting process allows municipalities to deny the permit application if such an event does not seem practical. Local communities in New Jersey, primarily near beaches and other hubs of community activity, have experienced a major increase in spontaneous, unpermitted mass gatherings that bring along disorderly and dangerous conduct. So called "pop-up parties" present a great risk of destructive, crowd-driven behavior and dangers that cannot be foreseen. Local law enforcement and municipal officials have worked together to prevent these unpermitted mass gatherings from taking place with varying degrees of success. The New Jersey State League of Municipalities passed a resolution at its 2022 Conference calling for State assistance and solutions to the myriad issues posed by unpermitted mass gatherings. State assistance may allow municipalities to better anticipate potential unpermitted mass gatherings, hold organizers and attendees who incite hazards accountable for their misdeeds, and dissuade future pop-up gatherings.
AI Summary
This resolution urges the Governor and Attorney General of New Jersey to provide assistance to municipalities in addressing unpermitted mass gatherings, commonly referred to as "pop-up parties," which have become increasingly problematic across the state. These spontaneous events, often organized and promoted through social media, pose significant risks including potential property damage, crowd-driven destructive behavior, and public safety threats. The resolution highlights a specific example from September 24, 2022, in Wildwood, where an unsanctioned automotive event resulted in pedestrian injuries and two tragic deaths. Recognizing that local law enforcement and municipal officials are often ill-equipped to handle sudden, large, and potentially disorderly crowds, the resolution calls for state-level intervention. The aim is to help municipalities better predict, prevent, and respond to these unpermitted gatherings by increasing resources, potentially establishing curfews, upgrading criminal penalties, and creating strategies to monitor and mitigate such events. The resolution is supported by a previous resolution from the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, which called for collaborative action from state leadership to address these community safety challenges.
Committee Categories
Military Affairs and Security
Sponsors (4)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee (on 01/09/2024)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/AR37 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/AR/37_I1.HTM |
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