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Shocking bodycam footage from the police has surfaced, capturing the arrest of Gina LaPlaca, the mayor of Lumberton, New Jersey, for allegedly driving while intoxicated with her toddler in the vehicle. The video depicts LaPlaca struggling to maintain her balance before breaking down in tears as she is taken into custody and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) and endangering the welfare of a child. This incident reportedly occurred on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, after she was observed driving erratically.
In the footage, an officer can be heard asking LaPlaca, “You alright?” as he approaches her at her driveway around 5:40 p.m., according to the video obtained by NBC10 Philadelphia. The officers waited as the 45-year-old Democratic mayor removed her young son from the vehicle, whom she had reportedly just picked up from daycare. LaPlaca appeared to stumble or lose her balance multiple times during the encounter.
🚨FULL BODY-CAM FOOTAGE: NJ Democrat Mayor accused of DUI with her toddler in the car
Gina LaPlaca, 45, Mayor of Lumberton, was charged with DUI and now faces calls for her resignation from Lumberton residents
Police confronted LaPlaca after a bystander reported her driving… pic.twitter.com/CL4053oqQM
— Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) March 28, 2025
Notably, the passenger side-view mirror on her car was visibly damaged, with a wire hanging loosely, gently swaying in the wind.
“We got lots of calls where we had multiple claims that you ran a red light and you were swerving,” an officer informed the New Jersey mayor, to which she responded, “Oh, I’m sorry.”
“What happened to the mirror?” a second officer inquired, gesturing toward the destroyed sideview mirror on LaPlaca’s vehicle.
The Lumberton mayor then acknowledged that her mirror was damaged, adding that she had hit something, but stating, “I don’t know.”
NEW: Bodycam footage released shows the moment Gina LaPlaca, Democrat Mayor of Lumberton, NJ, was arrested for drunk driving with her toddler in the car.
She put her own child in extreme danger. She needs to RESIGN NOW.pic.twitter.com/BxweHu7YxD https://t.co/rHL0XubMZ7
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 28, 2025
Police officers then instructed LaPlaca to perform a field sobriety test, which she apparently failed, as the mayor can be seen stumbling again after being asked to stand on one leg.
An officer then placed LaPlaca in handcuffs as she whimpered, according to the police bodycam footage. “I’m sorry,” the New Jersey mayor said to the officers.
After searching her car, police reportedly discovered a water bottle containing alcohol, as well as a small bottle of liquor.
LaPlaca has since been released from jail and is scheduled to appear in court on April 28.
