NJ Mayor Charged With DUI After Driving Drunk With Toddler

On what should have been a routine drive home from daycare, a New Jersey mayor’s erratic behavior behind the wheel launched a chain of events that now has her facing serious criminal charges - and public scrutiny. It wasn’t just that she was allegedly drunk. It’s who was in the backseat that sent shockwaves through the township.

A Disturbing Scene on St. Patrick’s Day

Gina LaPlaca, the 45-year-old mayor of Lumberton Township, was arrested on Saint Patrick’s Day, March 17, after allegedly driving under the influence with her 2-year-old son in the car.

Police responded to LaPlaca’s home just before 6 p.m. after a concerned resident reported seeing her BMW swerving across lanes and nearly colliding with a utility pole. According to body camera footage released by authorities, officers arrived to find LaPlaca still inside the vehicle, visibly struggling to maintain balance as she removed her child from the backseat.

From Public Service to Public Arrest

Court documents and police reports indicate LaPlaca admitted to having consumed alcohol before picking up her child from daycare. Officers reported finding open alcohol containers inside the vehicle, including a plastic water bottle that smelled of vodka and a small liquor bottle.

The charges against her include driving under the influence, child neglect and endangerment, reckless driving, and operating a vehicle with an expired license. According to police, LaPlaca appeared emotional during the arrest, at one point saying, “I’m sorry,” as she was taken into custody, according to PEOPLE.

A Sudden Shift in Public Image

The arrest has brought sharp attention to LaPlaca’s recent political career. Elected to the township committee in 2020 and re-elected in 2023, LaPlaca also served as the business administrator for Neptune Township until her resignation just one week before the DUI incident. She cited a “changing political environment” in her departure, as reported by PEOPLE.

In the aftermath of the arrest, LaPlaca’s husband, Jason Carty - a political activist and former director of the New Jersey Brewers Guild - took to social media to share that his wife is now seeking help for addiction.

“Millions of Americans struggle with addiction and never get help. Gina LaPlaca is someone who has struggled, and is now getting the help she needs,” Carty wrote, according to PEOPLE. “I ask that everyone keep her in their thoughts as she moves forward on her road to recovery. Please ignore the exaggerated political hyperbole and keep in mind her passion for helping others. This should not erase all the things she has accomplished for our community.”

Carty also added, “Gina is a loving and caring mother and stepmom to our son and her stepson. Our oldest is a teenager and can see the unkind things being said online. I ask simply that you respect our privacy, be better humans and please show some compassion, thank you.”

Pressure Mounts - But No Legal Removal Option

Following the release of bodycam footage and the growing outcry, members of the community and even a township committee member have called for LaPlaca to step down.

However, the town’s attorney clarified that under New Jersey law and township code, there’s no legal pathway to forcibly remove her from her elected position unless she chooses to resign.

A Community Caught Between Concern and Compassion

The arrest leaves the community in a difficult position - balancing outrage over the alleged endangerment of a child with empathy for a local leader facing a very public struggle. It also raises larger questions about accountability, addiction, and the often-blurred line between public and private lives in local politics.

References: New Jersey Mayor Charged with DUI After Driving Her 2-Year-Old Son Home from Daycare on St. Patrick’s Day: Reports | New video shows NJ mayor’s drunken driving arrest with kid in car, police say | Bodycam Footage Shows N.J. Mayor Staggering During DUI Arrest After Driving Son, 2, Home from Daycare