A2956

An Act concerning law enforcement and supplementing Title 40A of the New Jersey Statutes and Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. As used in this section:

“Classified advertisement website” means an Internet website that allows individuals to post items for sale or acquisition.

“Designated safe area” means an area on municipal police department property that shall be designated by the chief law enforcement officer to be used by members of the public to execute an Internet sales transaction.

“Internet sales transaction” means an in-person exchange of an item that was offered for sale or acquisition on a classified advertisement website and in which the parties to the exchange agree to meet at a designated safe area.

b. The chief law enforcement officer of each municipal police department may establish a designated safe area which may be used by members of the public to conduct Internet sales transactions. For the purpose of ensuring public safety, the municipal police department may install a video camera capable of recording a clear image of the designated safe area at all times the area is made available to the public.

c. A municipal police department or member of the department shall not be responsible for regulating Internet sales transactions conducted in the designated safe areas. A municipal police department or member of the department acting in accordance with official duties shall not be civilly liable for crimes or offenses committed by participants to an Internet sales transaction.

d. A municipal police department that establishes a designated safe area pursuant to this section may conduct a public awareness campaign, utilizing the Internet and any other available resources, to inform the public about the designated safe area established on the municipal police department’s property. The public awareness campaign may include, but not be limited to, safety tips to decrease the risk of crime when engaging in Internet sales transactions.

2. a. As used in this section:

“Classified advertisement website” means an Internet website that allows individuals to post items for sale or acquisition.

“Designated safe area” means an area that the chief law enforcement officer designates on county police department property that shall be used by members of the public to execute an Internet sales transaction.

“Internet sales transaction” means an in-person exchange of an item that was offered for sale on a classified advertisement website and in which the parties to the exchange agree to meet at a designated safe area.

b. The chief law enforcement officer of each county police department may establish a designated safe area which may be used by members of the public to conduct Internet sales transactions. For the purpose of ensuring public safety, the county police department may install a video camera capable of recording a clear image of the designated safe area at all times the area is made available to the public.

c. A county police department or member of the department shall not be responsible for regulating Internet sales transactions conducted in the designated safe areas. A county police department or member of the department acting in accordance with official duties shall not be civilly liable for crimes or offenses committed by participants to an Internet sales transaction.

d. A county police department that establishes a designated safe area pursuant to this section may conduct a public awareness campaign, utilizing the Internet and any other available resources, to inform the public about the designated safe area established on the county police department’s property. The public awareness campaign may include, but not be limited to, safety tips to decrease the risk of crime when engaging in Internet sales transactions.

3. The Attorney General shall notify the chief law enforcement officer of each municipal and county police department that the department is permitted to establish a designated safe area pursuant to sections 1 and 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

4. This act shall take effect on the first day of the third month next following enactment.

STATEMENT

This bill allows municipal and county police departments to establish designated safe areas which may be used by members of the public to conduct sales transactions for items listed on classified websites, such as craigslist.

For the purpose of ensuring public safety, the bill allows municipal and county police departments to install a video camera capable of recording a clear image of the designated safe area at all times the area is made available to the public. The bill provides that local police departments and their members would not be responsible for regulating the sales transactions or be civilly liable for crimes or offenses committed by participants to the sales transactions. Under the bill, county and municipal police departments are allowed to conduct a public awareness campaign, utilizing the Internet and any other available resources, to inform the general public about designated safe areas on their department’s property. The public awareness campaign may include safety tips to decrease the risk of crime when engaging in Internet sales transactions.

In addition, the bill requires the Attorney General to notify chief law enforcement officers that they are permitted to establish a designated safe area on municipal and county police department property.