Shirley K. Turner

TRENTON – Sports agents or recruiters who bestow gifts on high school athletes to lure them into professional contracts or agreements for college scholarships could face fines of up to $10,000 under a bill released today by a Senate committee.

“There should be serious consequences if the pervasive influence of big-money sports contracts and other lures for athletes touches our high school students,” said Senator Shirley K. Turner, Chair of the Senate Education Committee and sponsor of the bill, S-1634.

TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner introduced a bill today which would place greater restrictions on bounty hunters, following a botched raid this past Monday in Trenton that leaves the effectiveness and legality of the profession in question.

“Bounty hunters say they stand for justice, bringing in fugitives who have skipped on bail, but we have to be careful that they are not employing many of the same tactics used by the fugitives they capture,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “Monday’s case shows that, too often, bounty hunters use barely legal, if not patently illegal, methods to bring in their targets. We need a strong regulatory system to ensure that they do not overstep the law, using justice as a smokescreen for unsafe and reckless activities.”

TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner has proposed the toughest crackdown yet on gasoline price gougers by fining repeat offenders up to $5,000 for each subsequent offense.

Money from the fines should be used to help low income seniors and the disabled pay their heating bills this winter when prices for natural gas and home heating oil are expected to skyrocket.

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner which would increase consumer protections from identity theft in New Jersey and allow victims greater ability to clear their names was signed into law today by Governor Codey.

“Identity theft is one of the most insidious crimes out there, because it turns a person’s good credit against them, racking up debt for someone else’s illegal purchases,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “In the Internet Era, information is oftentimes more valuable than material possessions, and anyone can become a victim at any time. However, with the proper precautions in place, New Jersey can help guard our residents from this particular type of victimization and ensure that consumers are not helpless to identity theft.”

TRENTON – Owners of miniaturized motorcycles commonly known as “pocket bikes” or “mini-motos” can no longer operate them on New Jersey’s streets and sidewalks as Governor Richard Codey signed legislation today sponsored by Senators Joseph Congilio and Shirley K. Turner that would make their use on public property illegal.

“Unfortunately, last summer saw several high-profile accidents involving children riding on pocket bikes,” said Senator Coniglio, D-Bergen. “With this new law, we hope to avoid a repeat of that this summer. It’s good to know that as children are well into enjoying their summer, concerns about accidents involving pocket bikes are greatly alleviated. It is my hope that parents will enforce this ban at home so that our local police officers don’t have to.”