Neighbor News
Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon Votes Against Another Public Safety Issue
Only Assembly Person in State Legislature that Voted Against Enhanced Penalties Against Drunk Drivers With Minors as Passengers
Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon, (R-Monmouth) has done it again. The Assemblyman representing LD-13, encompassing 16 municipalities—including Marlboro, curiously and inexplicably voted against another public safety matter—this time concerning children under the age 0f 17.
The staunch Chris Christie ally, and member of Christie’s now dismantled Presidential Leadership Team, has been stumbling with his quest to be the presumptive Republican nominee for state senator—especially since his much-criticized vote raising the gasoline tax by 23-cents a gallon.
O’Scanlon’s questionable and eye popping public safety record has been reported before. Mr. O’Scanlon was one of only four Assemblypersons that voted against a measure that would have provided financial security to brutalized unarmed correction officers.
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He has also voiced his opposition to a bill that is currently in the Assembly Education Committee. A bill, already passed in the Senate, would permit school districts to video violators recklessly passing stopped school buses while unloading and loading school children.
Mr. O’Scanlon has even proffered his support to lower the legal drinking age from 21 to 18, to those that want to consume alcoholic beverages.
Assembly Bill A-825, sponsored by Assemblyman and Jersey City police officer, Charles Mainor, proposes increasing the penalties for driving drunk with a minor as a passenger in a motor vehicle. Current law upon conviction of drunk driving, makes it a Disorderly Persons Offense with a fine of $1000 dollars and/or imprisonment up to 6-months.
Under the proposed bill, a parent or guardian convicted of drunk driving with a minor as a passenger, would still be guilty of a Disorderly Persons offense; however, if a minor is present in the motor vehicle, that operator will now be subjected to an enhanced fine and/or period of imprisonment. The offense will be elevated from a Disorderly Persons Offense to a criminal offense. A measure Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon is poignantly opposed to. The Assemblyman was the only legislator—out of 80 statewide—that opposed such a measure. Should the Assemblyman become a member of the state Senate, he would actually have an opportunity to vote on this measure a second time. And it is abundantly clear how he feels on the matter regarding children at the hands of intoxicated drivers.
Mr. O’Scanlon, may be a self-proclaimed “budget hawk;” however, when it comes to issues of public safety, he certainly is an albatross.
