Senator Latham Tiver (R-08) has announced plans to introduce a bill aimed at increasing criminal penalties for drivers convicted of vehicular homicide in work zones. The proposed legislation follows the death of Allen Adams, a construction worker who was killed by an alleged drunk driver while working on Route 9 in Toms River.
Currently, reckless vehicular homicide is classified as a second-degree crime in New Jersey, with sentences ranging from five to ten years in prison. In certain cases, such as incidents occurring near school zones or involving drivers with revoked licenses, charges can be elevated to a first-degree crime, carrying a penalty of ten to twenty years.
Senator Tiver’s bill would expand the circumstances under which charges may be raised to first-degree if the fatal incident happens within highway construction areas or designated safe corridors.
“What happened to Mr. Adams was a highly avoidable tragedy committed by a selfish person who ignored not only our laws but work zone safety warnings. Mr. Adams was a skilled worker doing his job to support a family who will never get to see him again. He, along with every construction worker in our state, deserves to be safe while on the clock, repairing our infrastructure,” said Senator Tiver, who has worked his entire adult life as a heavy machinery operator for Operating Engineers Local 825.
“Work zone warnings exist for a reason. They are meant to alert motorists of the men and women who are busting their asses on the side of the road, repairing and enhancing our infrastructure. It is an inherently dangerous job, and drivers need to respect that. The alleged drunk driver in this instance showed that he did not value human life when he disregarded those warnings. People who disregard the life of others, causing this level of tragedy, deserve to be locked behind bars for a long time,” Tiver continued.
