June 15, 2010
 | GOODWIN AND SCHROEDER CALL FOR ACTION |
Citing terrifying incidents in which teenage drivers were targeted and harassed due to “Kyleigh’s Law” decals on their vehicles,” Senator Thomas Goodwin, R-Mercer and Middlesex, and Assemblyman Robert Schroeder, R-Bergen, today called for action on legislation they have sponsored to repeal the decal provision of the law.
“I haven’t been in Trenton very long, but it’s easy to see Trenton isn’t listening to the will of the people,” Goodwin said at a Statehouse press conference. “From across the state, parents and young adults are demanding we repeal the decal requirement for young drivers.
“I’ve received phone calls, emails, and Facebook messages that say we need to keep teen drivers safe,” he continued. “It’s common sense that making them a target for predators is the wrong way to do that.”
Goodwin and Schroeder are the prime sponsors of S-1908/A-2650 which would immediately repeal the new red sticker requirement for teenage drivers. It is one of several anti-decal bills awaiting release from committee, and the only Assembly measure that has secured bipartisan support. The two legislators pointed out that several municipalities across the State have begun passing resolutions in support of the amendment.
“The decal law may have been enacted with good intentions, but it gives criminals who prey on teens an added advantage when choosing their victims,” said Schroeder. “It's important to note that A-2650 does not seek to change any of the new GDL safety provisions, such as curfews and passenger restrictions. Those are issues that can be assessed by the Motor Vehicle Commission after some time has passed. The decal repeal cannot wait. We must not put our children at risk. We must heed the concerns of thousands of parents and teens across New Jersey, and put A-2650 up for Committee release as soon as possible.”
Joining Goodwin and Schroeder were Oceanport Councilman Joseph Irace, whose town passed a resolution in support of A-2650; Joe Phalon, founder of the 12,000+-member Facebook group “Kyleigh’s Law is Dangerous for Our Children;” Linda Mysantry of Oceanport, who filed a police report after her teenage daughter was followed home from work one night because of the decal on the license plate, and Linda Gianni of Andover, whose teenage daughter had a similar experience. Several other concerned parents and teens who support the anti-decal legislation also attended the event.
