NJ State Police Bag Fireworks, Step up Holiday Patrols
Special New Jersey police patrols were out in force over this Independence Day weekend to make sure that all of the pyrotechnics set off by state residents were within the regulations of New Jersey state fireworks laws.
According to a press release from the New Jersey State Police website, patrols have been putting more effort into confiscating illegal fireworks over the 4th of July holiday. Big items like M80s and Roman Candles are in the state’s sights, but officers can even take away sparklers if they feel they are posing a threat to the public. Simple possession, say police officials, constitutes a “disorderly persons offense” with bigger charges for illegal sale carrying a possible maximum penalty of 18 months imprisonment and fines up to $10,000.
State police claim they net about six to eight tons of illegal explosives each year. That adds up to a lot of gunpowder that police officials say could send New Jersey residents to the emergency rooms and hospitals that already tend to be overcrowded on holidays.
Contrary to what some patriotic NJ residents might have thought, the State PD is not just out to spoil everyone’s fun. One Colonel from a New Jersey barracks talking about the diverse goals of extra holiday patrols iterated the goal of the state department as a “fatality free holiday”. The New Jersey state police were also on the hunt for drunk drivers and those operating boats and other water vehicles under the influence of alcohol.
The police in New Jersey or any other state have a duty to protect the public from criminal behavior, but innocent citizens could become involved in a dragnet. To assess correctly whether charges are appropriate for a 4th of July arrest, a defendant needs to talk to a skilled criminal defense attorney. These legal professionals will quickly use case law and knowledge of local statutes to ascertain what kind of liability would be involved in a trial.
When defendants need criminal defense lawyers to assist in their specific cases, quality matters. The skilled New Jersey criminal defense attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein can get good data on what kind of charges await a NJ resident who is not sure of their legal standing after an arrest. Call our New Jersey criminal defense firm to find out more about how we can build a strong defense strategy for your case by using good fact finding, professional contacts, and a thorough knowledge of New Jersey statutes to bring an effective New Jersey criminal defense strategy to the table.
