A New Jersey mayor, whose reckless actions earlier this year shocked her community, is now facing serious legal consequences. Gina LaPlaca, aged 46, was apprehended in March for driving under the influence with her young son in tow. This week, a Burlington County grand jury officially indicted her on charges of child endangerment and child abuse.
The incident that led to these charges occurred on March 17, around 6 p.m., when a concerned bystander reported a vehicle driving erratically in Lumberton. This vigilant individual not only noted the car’s license plate but also observed it veering across the center line and onto the grass. Alarmingly, they realized a child was present in the vehicle, prompting them to contact local authorities.
When police officers arrived at LaPlaca’s home, they found her in the process of helping her son out of the back seat. Confronted with reports of her hazardous driving, she initially denied consuming alcohol. However, she eventually confessed to drinking before picking up her child from daycare. A search of her vehicle revealed an empty miniature liquor bottle and a water bottle containing what appeared to be vodka mixed with another liquid.
Body camera footage from the scene further illustrated her impaired state. The video captures LaPlaca struggling to maintain her balance during a field sobriety test and, at one point, breaking down in tears. It also shows a damaged sideview mirror, though it remains unclear when or how it was damaged.
LaPlaca first denied drinking, then admitted she had before picking her young son up from daycare. In the car, officers found an empty miniature liquor bottle, a water bottle with what appeared to be vodka and another liquid.
Body camera footage showed her staggering and stumbling — at one point even bursting into tears — during a field sobriety test. A damaged sideview mirror can also be seen on the video. It’s unknown when the damage actually occurred.
At the police station, she reportedly asked an officer to call the chief. LaPlaca was issued seven motor vehicle citations.
Despite calls for her to step down, she returned to work in May after supposedly attending an inpatient rehab program for substance abuse.
“I am now undergoing intensive outpatient treatment three hours a day, five days a week,” she said at a May 15 committee meeting.
An arraignment hearing on the charges is scheduled for Dec. 8. If convicted, LaPlaca could face nearly 12 years in prison, a $150,000 fine, be forced to resign as mayor and lose custody of her son.
