St. Patrick’s Day Ends In DUI Arrest For Democrat Mayor

Empty prison cell with metal bars and bed.

New Jersey Democratic mayor Gina LaPlaca faces potential career-ending consequences after being arrested for driving under the influence with her 2-year-old son in the car following St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

Key Insights

Mayor LaPlaca was charged with DUI, child endangerment, reckless driving, and driving with an expired license after a witness recorded her erratic driving on March 17.
Police found an open container of alcohol in her BMW when she was stopped after allegedly nearly hitting a utility pole.
Despite mounting public pressure to step down, LaPlaca has refused to resign and stated she is seeking treatment for addiction.
This incident follows a previous 2023 arrest for allegedly assaulting her husband, further complicating her political standing.
Township officials confirmed they cannot force her removal without a recall election or voluntary resignation.

St. Patrick’s Day Incident Leads to Serious Charges

Lumberton, New Jersey mayor Gina LaPlaca finds herself at the center of a political firestorm after her arrest on St. Patrick’s Day. Law enforcement charged the Democratic mayor with driving under the influence, child endangerment, reckless driving, and operating a vehicle with an expired license. The situation became particularly troubling when it was revealed that LaPlaca had allegedly consumed alcohol before picking up her 2-year-old son from daycare, placing him in a potentially dangerous situation.

A concerned citizen recorded LaPlaca driving erratically in her 2019 BMW and nearly colliding with a utility pole. When authorities stopped the mayor, they discovered an open container of alcohol in her vehicle. The incident has sparked significant outrage in the community, with many residents expressing shock that an elected official would allegedly endanger not only herself but also her young child. LaPlaca is scheduled to appear in court on April 28 to face these charges.

Community Reaction and Calls for Resignation

Residents of Lumberton have responded with anger and concern, packing a recent township meeting to express their disapproval of the mayor’s actions. Many have directly called for LaPlaca’s immediate resignation, arguing that her behavior demonstrates a serious lapse in judgment that makes her unfit to continue serving in public office. The small township, located about 25 miles east of Philadelphia in Burlington County, has become divided over the incident and its aftermath.

“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,” Mayor LaPlaca said.

The township solicitor has clarified that the committee lacks the authority to force LaPlaca out of office. Only two methods could remove her from her position: a recall election initiated by residents or her voluntary resignation. This limitation has further frustrated community members seeking immediate action. LaPlaca, who was elected to the township committee in 2020 and became mayor in 2023, has made it clear she intends to maintain her office despite the controversy.

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

Husband’s Defense and Addiction Struggles

LaPlaca’s husband, Jason Carty, has publicly come to her defense, asking the community to focus on her battle with addiction rather than the political fallout. He confirmed that she is now seeking professional help for her struggles, which she had previously been reluctant to address. This recent incident appears to have served as a wake-up call for the mayor, who has now acknowledged her addiction issues in the aftermath of her arrest.

“Millions of Americans struggle with addiction and never get help. Gina LaPlaca is someone who has struggled, and is now getting the help she needs. I ask that everyone keep her in their thoughts as she moves forward on her road to recovery. Please ignore the exaggerated political hyperbole and keep in mind her passion for helping others. This should not erase all the things she has accomplished for our community,” Jason Carty said.

This is not LaPlaca’s first brush with legal troubles. In 2023, she was arrested for allegedly assaulting her husband, though Carty later took responsibility for that incident. The mayor also recently resigned from her position as Neptune Township business administrator, reportedly due to political changes following President Trump’s administration taking office. These compounding issues have created significant challenges for her political career and personal life as she faces mounting legal and public relations challenges.