Bodycam: Mayor Arrested For DUI Demands To Call Police Chief

New Jersey mayor Gina LaPlaca was caught on bodycam staggering and failing sobriety tests while demanding officers call the police chief during her DUI arrest with her toddler in the car on St. Patrick’s Day.

Quick Takes

Bodycam footage shows Democratic Mayor Gina LaPlaca failing field sobriety tests after being stopped for erratic driving on March 17
Officers found a water bottle filled with alcohol and a small liquor bottle in her car, which had a crushed side-view mirror
LaPlaca had her young son in the vehicle, leading to additional charges of child endangerment
While in custody, she repeatedly asked officers to contact the township’s Police Chief
Her husband later revealed that LaPlaca struggles with addiction and is seeking help

Mayor’s Erratic Driving Leads to Arrest

On March 17, 2025, at approximately 5:40 p.m., Lumberton Township Mayor Gina LaPlaca found herself in legal trouble following a 911 call reporting her erratic driving. Police responded to LaPlaca’s residence where they found her in her driveway removing her young son from his car seat. The Democratic mayor’s condition immediately raised concerns for the responding officers, who observed her unsteady movements and slurred speech. When questioned about her wellbeing, LaPlaca insisted she was fine despite visibly struggling to maintain her balance.

“Are you OK?” one officer asked, to which LaPlaca responded, “Yes, I am,” before immediately stumbling and nearly falling over. The officers also noted that her vehicle had sustained significant damage, with the side-view mirror completely crushed. When questioned about the damage, LaPlaca vaguely mentioned hitting something but provided no further details. A witness had already reported her concerning driving behavior and provided her license plate to authorities before she arrived home.

Failed Sobriety Tests and Discovery of Alcohol

The bodycam footage shows LaPlaca failing multiple field sobriety tests. She was unable to maintain her balance when asked to stand on one leg, continually swaying and eventually requiring officer intervention to prevent her from falling. Initially, LaPlaca denied consuming alcohol, but later admitted to drinking that day. A search of her vehicle uncovered a water bottle filled with alcohol and a small liquor bottle, adding to the mounting evidence against her.

“No, I’m good,” LaPlaca insisted at one point in the footage, contradicting her visible impairment. Officers proceeded with the arrest after determining she was unable to safely operate a vehicle. The mayor began crying as officers placed her in handcuffs and explained the charges she would be facing. Her emotional state worsened as she realized the gravity of the situation and the potential consequences of her actions.

Shocking bodycam footage shows NJ Mayor Gina LaPlaca staggering while arrested for allegedly driving driving drunk with toddler in car https://t.co/P40eAwBBld pic.twitter.com/BO1ze3NeJh

— New York Post Metro (@nypmetro) March 28, 2025

Demands to Contact Police Chief

Once in custody, LaPlaca consented to a breathalyzer test but became increasingly distressed as the reality of her arrest set in. The footage shows her repeatedly asking officers to contact the township’s Police Chief. “Can I please go home and see my son,” she pleaded with officers, who explained that she was under arrest and would need to follow standard procedures. This special treatment request has raised eyebrows among constituents who expect their elected officials to adhere to the same laws they are sworn to uphold.

“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,” her husband Jason Carty later wrote in a Facebook post addressing the incident.

LaPlaca was charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving, endangering the welfare of a child, and driving with an expired license. She was released with a summons to appear in court on April 28, 2025. The mayor’s husband has asked the public to support her recovery journey while remembering her contributions to the Lumberton Township community, suggesting that her addiction struggles preceded this incident and that she is now actively seeking treatment.