Democratic Assemblyman Proposes Mandatory Dash Board Cameras

Trenton – Democratic State Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D4) has proposed legislation that would require all police cars in the state to have dash board cameras. Moriarty was the victim of a false complaint. In July of 2012, Moriarty was pulled over in Washington Township. The officer who conducted the stop charged Moriarty with driving while intoxicated, among other things. The officer said that Moriarty had cut him off. Moriarty insisted he had not been drinking and that he did not cut the officer off.
Fortunately for Assemblyman Moriarty, the officer’s car was equipped with a dash board mounted video camera. When the video was obtained, it demonstrated that the officer had lied about the stop and Moriarty’s condition. He was not intoxicated and had not cut the officer off.
The investigation turned 180 degrees. The officer involved was indicted on 14 criminal counts, including submitting a false report to law enforcement, falsifying records, false swearing and official misconduct. Moriarty’s bill would require dash cams in all police cars. A new $25 surcharge on DWI offenders would cover the cost so as not to burden municipal taxpayers.
“Having gone through this experience, I would not want anyone who was unfairly accused, whether it’s a police officer or citizen, to not have the benefit of a video tape to prove their innocence,” Moriarty told the South Jersey Times in June.
The situation is similar to the Troopergate scandal surrounding Democratic Assemblyman Nelson Albano (D1), though the roles are reversed. In February of 2012, Albano was stopped by a New Jersey State Trooper for speeding. Albano first tried to use his position as a Legislator to talk his way out of the ticket. When that failed, Albano sent a letter on his official Van Drew – Albano – Milam legislative office letterhead to the head of the New Jersey State Police and made up stories about how he was treated by the Trooper.
Fortunately for the Trooper, his dash cam video was rolling and the truth was revealed. NJLawman.com described the Albano incident this way: [T]he version depicted on the video was nothing like the version described in the complaint. In fact, it was as if Assemblyman Albano’s letter was describing an entirely different encounter. In the column, the law enforcement website went on to ask, “[N]ow what? To what standard are New Jersey legislators held? How many pages are in their internal affairs policy? And what disciplinary action will be taken here?”
The Star Ledger, the Vineland Daily Journal, the Gloucester County Times, the Asbury Park Press and NJLawman.com all reviewed the video and concluded in essence that the Assemblyman had filed a complaint against the State Trooper that was exposed as false by the dash cam video. The Star Ledger called for an ethics investigation of Albano’s conduct. Though a private citizen did file an ethics complaint several months ago, no action has been taken against Albano in the Troopergate scandal.
Moriarty’s bill to require dash board cameras was referred to the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee in June, 2013. Albano sits on the committee. To date, no action has been taken on the bill.
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