Bill S 103 creates new criminal offenses for the unlawful possession and use of credit card scanners in New Jersey. It makes possessing such a device without a lawful purpose a disorderly persons offense (misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 fine or 6 months in jail), and using it for unlawful purposes a second-degree crime (felony punishable by up to $150,000 fine or 5-10 years in prison). The bill directly affects individuals who handle credit card scanners without authorization, such as those attempting to steal card data. Key provisions define "credit card scanner" broadly as any device that reads, records, or transmits card information, and establish specific penalties for each violation. The law takes effect two months after enactment.
This bill (S 366) updates New Jersey's murder and assault laws to include death or serious injury occurring during car theft. It specifically adds "theft of a motor vehicle" to the list of crimes that can trigger felony murder charges under N.J.S.2C:11-3, meaning someone who causes death while stealing a car could now face murder charges instead of a lesser offense. The key change expands existing felony murder provisions - previously covering crimes like robbery or burglary - to explicitly include auto theft. This directly affects individuals committing car theft who cause death or serious injury during the act. The bill does not change sentencing but clarifies that such incidents will be prosecuted under the more severe murder statute.
This bill (S 887) lowers the monetary threshold for motor vehicle theft to qualify as a second-degree crime. Currently, motor vehicle theft is a third-degree offense (up to 5 years in prison) if the vehicle is valued under $25,000. The bill would reclassify theft of a vehicle valued at $25,000 or more as a second-degree crime (up to 10 years in prison), while vehicles under $25,000 would remain third-degree. It directly affects individuals who steal vehicles meeting this new value threshold, increasing potential penalties for higher-value vehicle thefts. The change specifically modifies New Jersey's theft statute (N.J.S.2C:20-2) to adjust the grading for motor vehicles.
This bill amends New Jersey's theft statute to specifically increase penalties for stealing packages delivered to residential properties by cargo carriers (like UPS or FedEx). If the stolen package is worth $200 or less, it becomes a fourth-degree crime; for values over $200, the penalty level rises by one degree. The bill also requires offenders to pay restitution for these thefts, which was previously optional. It directly affects individuals who steal residential delivery packages, targeting a growing issue that impacts residents' access to essential items like medication or documents.
This bill adds xylazine to New Jersey's Schedule III controlled substances list, meaning it is now classified as a controlled drug with specific legal restrictions. The exception explicitly allows veterinarians to prescribe, administer, or dispense xylazine for animal care without violating the law. Illegally possessing, distributing, or using xylazine would become a third-degree crime, punishable by up to five years in prison and fines up to $35,000. This change directly affects people who misuse xylazine outside of veterinary contexts, while leaving veterinary practice unaffected.
This bill (S 1931) increases penalties for reckless vehicular homicide when the driver was intoxicated. It elevates the offense to a first-degree crime if the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs while operating a vehicle near schools or school zones, including: within 1,000 feet of school property, through designated school crossings, near school crossings with juveniles present (even if unmarked), or in highway construction zones. Convictions under these circumstances require a minimum prison term of one-third to one-half of the sentence or three years (whichever is greater), with no parole eligibility during that period, plus a license suspension of 5 years to life. The law applies directly to drivers convicted of causing death while driving intoxicated in these specific locations.
This bill (S 991) allows municipal police officers in New Jersey to arrest individuals for disorderly conduct or petty disorderly conduct offenses anywhere in the state, not just within their own municipality's boundaries. Currently, officers can only make such arrests inside their municipality's limits under existing law. The bill amends a 1977 law to remove this territorial restriction, expanding officers' authority to address minor public disturbances statewide. It directly affects full-time, permanently appointed municipal police officers by broadening their arrest powers for specific offenses.
This bill (S 1041) changes how theft sentencing is calculated in New Jersey by allowing prosecutors to combine the value of stolen property from multiple theft incidents that occurred within a two-year period. It directly affects individuals convicted of multiple thefts, as the combined value could elevate the offense to a higher criminal degree (e.g., turning several small thefts into a second-degree crime). The key provision specifies that amounts from separate episodes or transactions - whether against the same victim or multiple victims - may be added together if they form a "single scheme or course of conduct" within the two-year window. This change does not alter the definition of theft but impacts sentencing severity based on aggregated totals. The bill is pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee as of January 2026.
New Jersey's S 200 would allow juveniles (under 18) to be tried as adults for terrorism and human trafficking offenses, regardless of their age. Currently, juveniles must be at least 15 to face adult prosecution for most serious crimes; this bill removes that age requirement specifically for terrorism and human trafficking. The court must still determine probable cause that the juvenile committed the offense (as an adult would) and that the circumstances and severity warrant the waiver. This change applies only to these two offenses and does not alter the waiver process for other crimes.
This bill clarifies and increases penalties for obstructing highways or public passages in New Jersey. It separates reckless obstruction (now a disorderly persons offense, punishable by up to 6 months in jail or $1,000 fine) from purposeful obstruction that affects commerce (now a fourth-degree crime, punishable by up to 18 months in jail or $10,000 fine). The bill also specifies that gathering to hear speech or communicate does not alone constitute obstruction, and makes it a violation to refuse a reasonable official order to move from a public passage. It directly affects individuals who block roads or public areas, whether alone or in groups, and updates existing penalties from current petty disorderly offense standards.
