Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Proposed bill would allow police officers to search cell phones after accidents. Supporters say it will help curb distracted driving-related incidents. Opponents say it violates drivers' rights.
When stopped by police, motorists usually are asked to present a driver's license and registration. If a bill just introduced before the state Senate becomes law, cell phones could be added to that list. The legislation, sponsored by state Sen. James Holzapfel (R-Ocean), would allow police to search a driver's cell phone without a warrant to determine if he or she was talking or texting immediately prior to a motor vehicle accident, according to an NJ.com report. Those in favor of the measure say it will give law enforcement officers—who must have "reasonable grounds" to demand the phone—an important asset in investigating crashes involving distracted driving, the article said. Using a cell phone while driving is a violation of New Jersey …
Monday, March 26, 2012
Christie is entitled to appointments, and the Dems are obligated to keep the court in balance.
Last week’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Trenton provided yet another New Jersey example of civics in action. It wasn't pretty, but it was necessary. By a 7-6 vote, the committee rejected one of Gov. Chris Christie’s two nominees for the state Supreme Court. After a marathon session, Phillip Kwon, who worked for U.S. Attorney Christie, was still just the number two man in the state Attorney General’s office. And Christie’s other nominee, Chatham Mayor Bruce Harris, had to leave without even a hearing, which may have been a blessing compared to what Kwon went through. Harris now has weeks, at least, to wait until he gets his own turn. While there were questions about a family business, it was clear the hearing and the rejection …
Monday, January 16, 2012
If his widow seeks his seat, will any other Republicans challenge her?
Morris County lost a powerful ally last Monday when Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce died suddenly at the end of the long last day of the lame duck session. DeCroce, 75, had been in the Assembly for almost 23 years, rising to the position as head of the GOP in the lower house in 2003. He was deputy speaker of the Assembly when the Republicans were in power between 1994 and 2001. At the time of his death, DeCroce was the most senior Assembly member and the sixth longest serving member of the Legislature. Before heading to Trenton, DeCroce was a Morris County freeholder for five years and served as its director in 1986. These almost 30 years in politics gave the Parsippany Realtor the experience and savvy to negotiate deals when …
Friday, January 13, 2012
More than 1,000 attend Friday morning’s Mass honoring the long-time Assemblyman.
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Friday, January 13, 2012
More than 1,000 people—including many state officials—filled St. Peter the Apostle Church in Parsippany Friday morning to honor General Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce. The Parsippany resident died suddenly Monday night at the Statehouse immediately following the end of the assembly’s final vote of its session. DeCroce, 75, served in the Assembly since 1989 and was named his party’s leader there in 2003. His wife, Betty Lou DeCroce, is a deputy commissioner with the Department of Community Affairs. He was a former Morris County freeholder. Among those in attendance Friday were former Govs. James Florio and Christine Todd Whitman, Congressmen Leonard Lance and Rodney Frelinghuysen, Gov. Chris Christie and his wife Mary Pat, Lt. Gov. …
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Assembly Minority Leader was to speak about working for the good of NJ residents.
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Tuesday, January 10, 2012
The following is the speech Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce was planning to give at Tuesday's joint session of the Legislature before he passed away on Monday night. Gov. Chris Christie made reference to the speech when he eulogized DeCroce at the Statehouse. Many of the words speak to a hope and commitment to Democrats and Republicans working together for the good of the state. Here is the speech, in its entirety. Good afternoon, Madam Speaker, honored guests, colleagues, friends, and family. First, I want to congratulate Assemblywoman Oliver on her re-election as Speaker and to extend a warm welcome to our newest members ... on both sides of the aisle. As we begin the 215th Legislative session, I believe it is beneficial to look …
Officials recall Legislator who acted as model and teacher
One of the last acts Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce performed Monday during a marathon Legislative session was to marshal through the Assembly a bill he co-sponsored that boosted development opportunities and annoyed environmentalists. DeCroce, 75, died Monday after the session that closed out the 214th Legislature. DeCroce, from Parsippany, served in the Assembly since 1989 and was named the his party’s leader there in 2003. His wife, Betty Lou DeCroce, is a deputy commissioner with the Department of Community Affairs. He was a former Morris County freeholder. DeCroce's death comes on the heels of the passing of another GOP assemblyman, Peter Biondi of Somerset County, who died Nov. 10, two days after he was re-elected to an …
Signed into law after lame duck session of legislature
A bill aimed at preventing teen suicide was signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Chris Christie. The bill—A-3659—sponsored by state Assembly members Mary Pat Angelini and Dave Rible, both R-Monmouth, requires the commissioner of Children and Families to develop and adopt a statewide youth suicide prevention plan within the next six months. The prevention plan is to be developed in concert with the Department of Human Services and the New Jersey Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council. Under the bill, the plan will identify, collect and share data with state and local sources on youth suicide deaths, attempts and self-inflicted injuries, as well as promote greater public awareness about youth suicide and prevention resources. “This legislation…
Many who have worked closely with Assembly Republican Leader offering their thoughts.
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Tuesday, January 10, 2012
As those in public office mourned the passing of State Assemblyman Alex DeCroce (R-Parsippany), who died suddenly late Monday night at the Statehouse, many are offering their thoughts about the Assembly Republican Leader. Here is what some of them had to say: For more on what local officials had to say about the passing of Alex DeCroce, click here.
Local, state officials react to sudden loss of Assembly minority leader.
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Tuesday, January 10, 2012
This story will be updated throughout the day: Local officials and former colleagues expressed shock Tuesday morning after learning Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Parsippany) collapsed and died suddenly late Monday night at the Statehouse. "I was totally shocked, that was totally unexpected," Butler Mayor Robert Alviene said. "He did what he could for us while he was in power. I'm sure his heart was in the right place all the time for the county here. Im sure he'll be missed." As a result of DeCroce's death, Gov. Chris Christie will postpone his State of the State address, originally scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m. He is expected to deliver a eulogy to DeCroce instead. Patch will stream Christie's remarks live at 1 p.m…
The veteran Morris County assemblyman collapsed just after a long late-night session in Trenton.
State Assemblyman Alex DeCroce died suddenly late Monday night after a long deliberative session at the Statehouse, according to multiple reports. He was 75 years old. Gov. Chris Christie will postpone Tuesday's planned State of the State, but will still address the Legislature to eulogize DeCroce, according to several reports. The Parsippany resident, who represented the 26th legislative district in Trenton since 1989, collapsed and died in a first-floor bathroom in the Statehouse just before 11:30 p.m., right after the legislature completed its final voting session. DeCroce was the state's longest-serving assemblyman. He served as the General Assembly's deputy speaker from 1994-2001 and was elevated to minority leader in 2003. In …
CJV
12:05 am on Tuesday, June 18, 2013
All of this was decided, rightly or wrongly, when cops were allowed to arrest you if you refused to take a breathalyzer and field sobriety test. Heck, the courts even permit flagrantly unconsitutional sobriety checkpoints. You're guilty until proven innocent not only when there is an incident, but even when not, as with the checkpoints. more ›