Bodycam Reveals NJ Mayor’s DUI Arrest With Child Present
Newly released police bodycam footage captured the moment Lumberton Township Mayor Gina LaPlaca stumbled and broke down in tears while being arrested for allegedly driving under the influence with her toddler son in the vehicle on St. Patrick’s Day. The video, made public Thursday, has intensified calls for the Democratic mayor’s resignation as community pressure mounts.
According to The New York Post, officers approached the 45-year-old mayor in her driveway around 5:40 p.m. on March 17 after receiving multiple 911 calls reporting erratic driving. The footage shows LaPlaca visibly struggling to maintain her balance as she removed her young son from his car seat in her BMW sedan.
Confrontation Captured on Video
“Are you OK?” an officer asks in the video, to which LaPlaca responds, “Yes, I am,” before immediately staggering against her vehicle. When questioned about her severely damaged side-view mirror, the mayor initially claimed it had been previously damaged before admitting she had hit something but adding vaguely, “I don’t know.”
The footage then shows LaPlaca attempting field sobriety tests, including balancing on one leg, which she failed while visibly swaying. “I’m sorry,” she repeats through tears as officers place her in handcuffs. A subsequent search of her vehicle allegedly uncovered a water bottle filled with alcohol and a small liquor bottle.
NBC News reports that a witness provided police with video of the mayor driving erratically and nearly colliding with a utility pole prior to her arrival home. One officer can be heard on the bodycam telling LaPlaca, “We got lots of calls where we had multiple claims that you ran a red light, you were swerving.”
🚨FULL BODY-CAM FOOTAGE: NJ Democrat Mayor accused of DUI with her toddler in the car
— Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) March 28, 2025
Gina LaPlaca, 45, Mayor of Lumberton, was charged with DUI and now faces calls for her resignation from Lumberton residents
Police confronted LaPlaca after a bystander reported her driving… pic.twitter.com/CL4053oqQM
Legal and Political Fallout
LaPlaca now faces multiple charges, including driving under the influence, reckless driving, and endangering the welfare of a child, according to court records. She was released with a summons to appear in court on April 15. The severity of her intoxication was apparently significant, as bodycam footage captured an officer at the station informing her that her blood alcohol level was so high she required hospitalization.
The incident has created significant political turmoil in the small New Jersey township. During a recent Lumberton Township Committee meeting, residents and fellow officials openly called for the mayor’s resignation. “There is a huge black eye and black cloud over our town right now,” local business owner Amy Callahan stated during the meeting. “For us to truly turn the page, I believe that cannot occur with her on our council.”
Committee member Terrance Benson echoed these sentiments, saying, “My personal opinion is for the mayor to step down and to heal herself.” Neither the township nor LaPlaca have issued formal statements since the footage was released.
Personal Struggles Revealed
In the aftermath of the arrest, LaPlaca’s husband, Jason Carty, a political activist, acknowledged on social media that his wife has struggled with addiction. This personal disclosure adds another dimension to what has become both a legal and political crisis for the Democratic mayor.
Addiction specialists note that incidents involving public figures can serve as important reminders about the dangers of driving under the influence. “What makes this case particularly troubling is the presence of a child in the vehicle,” said Dr. Elizabeth Morgan, director of the New Jersey Center for Addiction Treatment. “This significantly compounds both the legal consequences and the public response.”
Broader Implications
This incident comes at a time when DUI enforcement has been increasingly prioritized across New Jersey following several high-profile accidents in recent months. State police data shows a 12% increase in DUI arrests in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year.
For the township of approximately 12,000 residents, the situation represents an unprecedented challenge. The municipality’s charter does not contain specific provisions for removing an elected mayor under these circumstances, potentially creating a protracted political standoff if LaPlaca chooses not to resign voluntarily.
As the legal process moves forward toward the April court date, the political pressure on LaPlaca continues to intensify, with the bodycam footage now providing residents with visual evidence of the incident that has shaken confidence in their local leadership.
