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persons, State and local agencies, and businesses from posting or publishing on the Internet the home addresses or unpublished home telephone numbers of law enforcement officers and retired law enforcement officers.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or in reckless disregard of the probability of this exposure, to post or publish on the Internet the home address or unpublished telephone number of a law enforcement officer, retired law enforcement officer, or spouse or child residing with that officer.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 t he person recklessly violates this provision, it is a crime of the fourth degree. A fourth degree crim e 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. 

       

Following are other provisions in the law:  

 

      

• prohibits persons, businesses, and associations from disclosing on the Internet a law enforcement officer's or retired law enforcement officer's home address and or unpublished home telephone number under circumstances in which a reasonable person would believe that providing that information would expose another to harassment or risk of harm to life or property.

      

• specifies that persons, businesses, or associations may be liable to law enforcement officers, retired law enforcement officers, or any other person residing at the home of the officers for violating the provisions of the amended bill. The amended bill authorizes the officer or person to bring a civil action in Superior Court. The court may award: (1) actual damages, but not less than liquidated damages computed at the rate of $1,000 for each violation of this act; (2) punitive damages upon proof of willful or reckless disregard of the law; (3) reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred; and (4) any other preliminary and equitable relief as the court determines to be appropriate.

       

• defines "disclose" as soliciting, selling, manufacturing, giving, providing, lending, trading, mailing, delivering, transferring, publishing, distributing, circulating, disseminating, presenting, exhibiting, advertising or offering.