Car Protection Ordinance Up For Adoption at Holmdel Meeting

HOLMDEL, NJ — An ordinance establishing Motor Vehicle Protection Regulations, introduced by the Township Committee last month, is up for adoption Tuesday night.

The proposed ordinance would make it illegal in Holmdel to "enter or remain on any driveway, paved surface, or location within 20 feet of a stationary motor vehicle, knowing that he or she is not licensed or privileged to enter or remain in said location," the ordinance reads.

It also would make illegal committing any of the following acts:

• Peering into a window of a motor vehicle that the person does not own or have license or privilege to possess.
• Pulling a door handle or taking an action in an attempt to open or unlock a motor vehicle that the person does not own or have license or privilege to possess
• Possessing an electronic device that is capable of determining if an electronic key is located inside a motor vehicle.

These violations will be punishable by a fine of up to $2,000 and imprisonment of 90 days – the most severe penalties the township can exact, the township said.

The action came last month after Holmdel, and many other municipalities and the state, have experienced escalating car thefts or attempted car thefts.

The Township Committee will meet Tuesday night and Committeeman Rocco Impreveduto said the ordinance is on the agenda.

The ordinance establishes "aggressive new regulations to aid in our fight against car thefts in Holmdel," he and Deputy Mayor DJ Luccarelli said last month.

Luccarelli and Impreveduto made the following statement when they introduced the ordinance last month:

"Our police department has done an extraordinary job battling against this crisis – and we want to commend Chief (Frank) Allocco and the entire team as they work tirelessly to protect our residents. But, as many of you know, new statewide mandates (a reference to bail reform in which those arrested on lesser offenses are released from custody pending resolution of their charges)have limited their ability to fully stem the tide. Simply put, something had to be done," they said in a joint statement at the time.

And the new car protection ordinance was introduced.

Marlboro Township recently adopted a local ordinance that would similarly impose local fines and potential jail time for those trespassing to even touch cars that are not their property.

And at the state level, Gov. Phil Murphy earlier this month proposed stronger penalties for car theft.

New Jersey officials reported 14,320 car thefts in 2021 — a 22 percent increase over the prior year. So far this year, 13,849 vehicle thefts have been reported, according to State Police.

The state has made progress on preventing car thefts, according to Murphy. Auto thefts in September fell 12 percent from September 2021 and decreased 12 percent in October, compared to that time last year.