Mayor Under Fire — Refuses to Resign After Drunk Driving With Toddler [WATCH]

Gina LaPlaca, the 45-year-old mayor of Lumberton Township, New Jersey, was charged last month with driving under the influence while her 2-year-old son was in the vehicle.

As reported by The New York Post, the incident occurred on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, and has sparked widespread criticism among local residents and state officials.

Police were called after another driver recorded LaPlaca allegedly swerving on the road and nearly hitting a utility pole shortly after picking up her child from day care.

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Officers later responded to her residence and found the toddler secured in a car seat in the rear passenger seat of her vehicle.

Bodycam footage reportedly shows LaPlaca struggling to complete field sobriety tests, including stumbling while attempting to stand on one leg.

NEW: N.J. Democrat Mayor accused of driving drunk with her toddler REFUSES to RESIGN and her husband says everyone should ‘LEAVE HER ALONE.’

‘It’s not like she’s the mayor of some big city,’ said Jason Carty of his wife

Lumberton Mayor Gina LaPlaca allegedly admitted to… pic.twitter.com/ZsD4dqgdB1

— Unlimited L’s (@unlimited_ls) April 7, 2025

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During the investigation, officers also discovered a water bottle filled with alcohol and a small liquor bottle inside the vehicle.

LaPlaca was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving, and endangering the welfare of a child. She was released and is scheduled to appear in court on April 28.

NJ mayor Gina LaPlaca charged with DUI while driving toddler home from daycare on St. Patrick’s Day https://t.co/Y2RFuuNiuZ pic.twitter.com/jIjQuwQbzS

— New York Post (@nypost) March 19, 2025

Her husband, Jason Carty, a former Westhampton fire chief, has asked the public to ease off on his wife, citing her small-town role.

“It’s not like she’s the mayor of some big city. Lumberton has only 13,000 people. All I want is for my wife to get better and for everyone to leave her alone.”

Carty confirmed that LaPlaca is currently in an inpatient treatment facility.

Husband
NJ mayor charged
DUI while toddler was in her car wants public
leave her alone
Gina LaPlaca, who was charged with driving drunk while her toddler in the car last month
public should go easy on her because she is not the “mayor of some big city.” https://t.co/UpzwaAH8tW

— Sukhi jeevan parash मोदी का परिवार (@JeevanSukhi) April 8, 2025

The fallout from LaPlaca’s arrest was compounded by an earlier incident on March 5, when she was escorted out of a Mount Holly fire commissioners meeting by police.

In a 14-second video posted online, LaPlaca is seen shouting profanity at another woman after public criticism over Carty’s appointment as captain of the Ewing Township Fire Department in Mercer County. LaPlaca can be heard saying:

“You have no idea what I’ve been through, you f**king skank bi**h!”

Gina LaPlaca a DUI arrested with kid in car , DEMOCRAT MAYOR. In south jersey! What a mouth piece ! pic.twitter.com/u69OPLujQ1

— Donna (@jersey_puzzykat) April 4, 2025

Following the release of the footage, Carty defended his wife, stating:

“I personally asked Gina to leave the meeting due to the harassment she was being subjected to by the unruly crowd. Of course only a short clip was posted that shows her clapping back at them but the truth is she was harassed for over an hour. A few individuals made disgusting and misogynistic remarks to her and they should be ashamed of themselves.”

LaPlaca had been serving as Neptune Township’s business administrator since January 2022 but resigned from the role a week before her DUI arrest.

Governor Phil Murphy last week called on LaPlaca to “put her public duties aside.” Despite the pressure, LaPlaca has stated she will not resign from her role as mayor. LaPlaca wrote in an email obtained by Fox 29:

“I will not be resigning my position. Our community needs to be more kind and understanding about people trying to better themselves. As we all know, there is a huge black eye and black cloud over our town right now.”

LaPlaca was elected mayor of Lumberton in 2022 by a five-person township committee and won re-election in both 2023 and 2024.

Following her statement, residents filled a township committee meeting demanding her resignation. Fellow committee member Terrance Benson echoed those calls.

“My personal opinion is for the mayor to step down and to heal herself.”

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