Former NJ Mayor and Current City Committee Member Admits to Child Abuse and Driving Drunk with Toddler in Her Car — Avoids Jail, Will Remain in Office
Gina LaPlaca, the former Democrat mayor of Lumberton Township, New Jersey, and current member of the Lumberton Township Committee, has admitted to driving under the influence with her 2-year-old son in the car, and she’ll face no prison time while continuing to hold public office.
LaPlaca, 46, pleaded guilty on March 3 to fourth-degree child abuse and driving under the influence in Burlington County Superior Court.
The charges stem from a March 17 incident where she was caught swerving erratically on the road, nearly striking a utility pole, after picking up her toddler from daycare.
Police bodycam footage captured the arrest at her home, showing LaPlaca struggling to maintain balance as officers placed her in custody.
WATCH:
WATCH: Bodycam footage shows the moment Democratic New Jersey Mayor Gina LaPlaca staggers and starts crying while being arrested for allegedly driving drunk with her young son. pic.twitter.com/SJsIQAEDdw
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 29, 2025
Bodycam footage showing moment Democratic New Jersey Mayor Gina LaPlaca staggers and starts crying while being arrested for allegedly driving drunk with her young son. pic.twitter.com/QPyk1OBbiO
— MJK (@MJK10797588) March 30, 2025
NEW: Bodycam footage released shows the moment Gina LaPlaca, Democrat Mayor of Lumberton, NJ, was arrested for drunk driving with her toddler in the car.
She put her own child in extreme danger. She needs to RESIGN NOW.pic.twitter.com/BxweHu7YxD https://t.co/rHL0XubMZ7
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 28, 2025
According to a press release from the prosecutors, LaPlaca’s blood alcohol concentration was 0.30%, nearly four times New Jersey’s legal limit of 0.08%.
The liberal politician admitted to consuming “a little bit of vodka” before getting behind the wheel, and an open container of alcohol was found in her vehicle.
BREAKING: Gina LaPlaca, the former Democrat mayor and current city committee member of Lumberton, NJ, ADMITTED to child abuse and DUI charges after driving drunk with her toddler in the car.
She WILL NOT be serving any prison time and will continue holding public office.… https://t.co/rHL0XuckOF pic.twitter.com/pNFTV9QPjZ
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 6, 2026
This wasn’t her first time being arrested. In 2023, LaPlaca was charged with assault.
Instead of jail time, as most everyone else would receive, Superior Court Judge Craig A. Ambrose sentenced LaPlaca to three years of supervision under the state’s Pretrial Intervention (PTI) program.
As part of the deal, she must attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, install an ignition interlock device on her car to prevent drunk driving, and comply with probation terms.
Failure to comply with the judge’s orders could lead to prosecution on the child abuse charge.
LaPlaca was ousted as mayor in January but remarkably remains a member of the Lumberton Township Committee and is reportedly seeking reelection.
In a statement released through the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw emphasized the seriousness of the offense but noted the PTI program’s role in rehabilitation.
LaPlaca said in a statement, “The weight of my actions is something I carry deeply. What I did was wrong. It was dangerous. It was inexcusable. I drove while intoxicated with my child in the car – a choice that could have caused irreversible harm. That reality is something I will live with, and learn from, for the rest of my life.”
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