Lumberton, New Jersey Mayor Gina LaPlaca faces multiple charges, including driving under the influence (DUI) and child endangerment, after allegedly driving drunk with her 2-year-old son in the car on St. Patrick’s Day. LaPlaca was arrested at her home on Monday after admitting to consuming alcohol before picking up her son from daycare. Police also discovered an open container of alcohol in her 2019 BMW, according to ABC 6.
A witness captured video of the mayor driving “erratically,” swerving between lanes, and “nearly hitting a utility pole” while her son was in the backseat. The motorist provided police with the vehicle’s license plate number, enabling authorities to locate LaPlaca quickly.
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LaPlaca has been charged with reckless driving, child neglect, endangerment, driving under the influence, driving with an expired license, and related offenses. She is scheduled to appear in court on April 28.
In a Facebook post, Jason Carty, LaPlaca’s husband, shared that she is seeking help. “Millions of Americans struggle with addiction and never get help,” he wrote. “Gina LaPlaca is someone who has struggled and is now getting the help she needs. I ask that everyone keep her in their thoughts as she moves forward on her road to recovery.
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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.” LaPlaca, who was elected to the Lumberton Township Committee in 2020 and re-elected in 2023, was appointed mayor earlier this year. Lumberton, a township in Burlington County, is located about 25 miles east of Philadelphia.
Earlier this month, LaPlaca resigned as the Neptune Township business administrator, a position she had held since January 2022, citing the “changing political environment,” as reported by the Asbury Park Press. The incident has sparked concern among residents, with many awaiting further developments as the case progresses through the legal system.
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