Fanwood Borough Council Members Call for Repeal of Kyleigh's Law

Members of the Fanwood Borough Council voiced strong opposition to Kyleigh's Law at the council's agenda meeting Tuesday night. Kyleigh's Law, which took effect May 1, requires drivers under 21-years-old who possess permits or probationary licenses to affix red decals to the front and rear license plates of their vehicles.

The law's proponents argue that the measure discourages new drivers from violating the terms of their permits and probationary licenses. Because the decals make new drivers more readily identifiable to police, the argument goes, they are less likely to risk driving after the state's 11 p.m. curfew for new drivers or with more than one passenger in the car.

Before and after being signed into law, however, it faced stiff opposition on civil liberties grounds. Opponents argued that the decals would allow police to simply discriminate against young drivers, rather than acting as an effective deterrent against unsafe driving behaviors.

Fanwood's council members, however, took a different tact in their opposition Tuesday night. They said they had received specific complaints from local residents.

"They have been harassed and had their decals stolen," councilwoman Joan Wheeler said. "It really is out of control." The decals cost four dollars per pair.

"Unbelievable. A black market in red decals?" borough attorney Dennis Estis said. "What they won't come up with next."

Already, Cranford's Township Committee passed a resolution supporting a repeal of Kyleigh's law, council members said. They discussed whether to include a similar measure for consideration at the Borough Council's regular meeting next week.

Most of the council members echoed Wheeler's criticisms regarding the decal's potential to provoke thefts and harassment. "I'm concerned about the age because of, you know, predators," council member Katherine Mitchell said. The decals allow not just police to more readily identify young drivers, she argued, but sexual predators as well.

Councilman Anthony Parenti, a former Fanwood police chief, said he agreed. "Personally, I think it should be repealed."

The proposed resolution was added to the agenda for further discussion at the council's regular meeting Tuesday, July 13.