On January 19, 2016, Governor Christie signed into law an NJFOP-initiated bill, co-sponsored by Senators Linda Greenstein and Dawn Adieggo that now prohibits persons, State and local agencies, and businesses from posting or publishing on the Internet the home addresses or unpublished home telephone numbers of law enforcement officers and retired law enforcement officers.
Other legislators sponsoring this bill were Assemblypersons Addiego, Johnson, Mainor, Rible and Quijano. We thank each and every one of them!
Because of this NJFOP initiative, it is now a crime for a person to knowingly, with purpose to expose another to harassment or risk of harm to life or property, or in reckless disregard of the probability of this exposure, to post or publish on the Internet the home address or unpublished telephone number of a law enforcement officer, retired law enforcement officer, or spouse or child residing with that officer. If the person recklessly violates this provision, it is a crime of the fourth degree. A fourth degree crime is punishable by a prison term of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. If the person purposefully violates this provision it is a crime of the third degree. A third degree crime is punishable by a prison term of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both.