TRENTON, NJ — A bipartisan bill aimed at helping law enforcement better manage large, unruly gatherings has advanced in the New Jersey Senate, Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13) announced.
The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee approved O’Scanlon’s bill, S-3506/A-4653, which would require the Attorney General to create a crowd management training program for police departments in municipalities that have experienced multiple pop-up parties or flash mobs in the past year.
“Over the last year, local law enforcement was overwhelmed by chaotic large-scale gatherings, especially in areas along the Jersey Shore,” O’Scanlon said. “It is critical that we ensure public safety by giving law enforcement the resources, training, and backup needed to respond to, and swiftly quell, these disruptive gatherings.”
The legislation defines a flash mob as a gathering of 50 or more people, typically organized through social media without prior notice to local authorities, while a large-scale gathering is any event exceeding 500 attendees. The bill mandates training in general crowd control, juvenile crowd management, and strategies for responding to social media activity related to these gatherings.
The amended bill also requires the Attorney General to provide social media monitoring tools, mobile command units, and New Jersey State Police personnel to assist municipal departments. It also establishes a process for requesting immediate support during a flash mob.
The bill now moves forward for further legislative consideration.
Key Points:
- The bill mandates training for police departments in municipalities that have experienced multiple flash mobs or large gatherings.
- It provides law enforcement with resources like social media monitoring, mobile command units, and state police support.
- The legislation aims to improve response coordination for pop-up parties and flash mobs, particularly in areas like the Jersey Shore.