The disgraced ex-New Jersey mayor caught recklessly driving drunk with her 2-year-old son in the car on St. Patrick’s Day will not face jail time because of her “second chance.”
Lumberton Township Committeewoman Gina LaPlaca, who served as mayor last year, pleaded guilty to DUI and child endangerment charges on Tuesday and was sentenced to three years of supervision under an intervention program.
The 46-year-old Democrat will be required to take part in several court-ordered conditions, including attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and complying with New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency requirements, CBS News Philadelphia reported.
LaPlaca celebrated her acceptance into Burlington County’s Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) Program after her arrest over her boozy drive on March 17, 2025.
“I have never felt more humbled than I do standing before my community today,” LaPlaca wrote on Facebook Tuesday.
“The weight of my actions is something I carry deeply. What I did was wrong. It was dangerous. It was inexcusable. I drove while intoxicated with my child in the car — a choice that could have caused irreversible harm. That reality is something I will live with, and learn from, for the rest of my life.”
LaPlaca would have to face her child endangerment charge if she violates the requirements. Her charges would be dismissed after a successful completion of the program.
LaPlaca shot at several news reports claiming she had been denied admission into the program and was facing possible jail time, despite New Jersey court records indicating a Jan. 20 decision that denied her acceptance.
“I have always stood firm in my belief that the outcome is more important than the narrative, and I could not be more grateful for this outcome,” she said.
“I am grateful that this matter has been legally resolved, and I do not take lightly the second chance the court has given me. I see it not as an escape from consequences, but as an opportunity — an opportunity to do better, to be better, and to prove through my actions that I am worthy of that grace,” she added.
LaPlaca claimed she had privately struggled with alcoholism for years until it was no longer private.
“Addiction does not excuse my behavior, but it does explain the work I must continue to do. I am fully committed to my recovery. That commitment begins with my family — especially my children — and extends to every part of my life,” she said.
Last March, the local politician was spotted by another driver driving her son home from daycare, swerving across a road and nearly striking a utility pole during her boozy excursion.
The cautious motorists shared footage of the reckless driver to the police, who tracked the car down to LaPlaca’s home, where they met her in the driveway at around 6 p.m.
Officers discovered the then-mayor’s young son strapped in the backseat and an open container of alcohol scattered in the car.
LaPlaca admitted to drinking and driving and performed a field sobriety test. During the investigation police found that LaPlaca had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.30%, over three times the legal limit, according to CBS News Philadelphia.
The Lumberton Township is governed by a five-member panel of committeepeople who serve three-year terms.
During an annual meeting, the members vote for the mayor and deputy mayor, who serve in the position for one year each.
LaPlaca’s current term ends on Dec. 31, 2026.
Read the full article here
