March 6, 2026
From Car Crash to Jail Cell? The Bridgewater Law That Could Put You Behind Bars
THIS IS THE SPEECH DELIVERED BY FORMER COUNCILMAN FILIPE PEDROSO AT THE MAR. 5, 2026 COUNCIL MEETING.
Watch 🎥 Click here to watch this full speech delivered at the Council meeting
Watch 🎥 Click here to watch this full speech delivered at the Council meeting
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Chapter 40 of our Code—the 'Hazardous Substances' ordinance—was originally designed for environmental safety. But on May 23rd, 2024, it was weaponized. Under the leadership of Tax King Mayor Moench, the Council voted 4-to-1 to impose a rule that if you cannot pay a cleanup bill within 45 days, you face up to six months in a jail cell. I cast the lone dissenting vote.
Let that sink in. Six months in jail — not for committing a crime, not for intentional misconduct — but for being unable to pay a bill.
The human cost of this ordinance now has a name: Peter Della Ventura
On March 5th, 2025, Peter nearly lost his life in a horrific accident. We saw the very best of Bridgewater that day when Officer Noah Allatt bravely pulled Peter from a burning wreck. That is the Bridgewater we love. But what followed is the Bridgewater we should fear.
While Peter was in agony, recovering from injuries that kept him out of work and exhausted his savings, the Township didn’t send him a 'get well' card. They sent him a bill for over $15,000. They charged him for the 'volunteer' time of heroes who don’t even draw a paycheck from this town.
And because Peter—a man who has spent months in medical treatment without receiving a paycheck—cannot produce $15,000 in 45 days, this Township is holding a six-month jail sentence over his head.
Since when did we start jailing people for being victims of an accident?
Anyone can have a car accident. In fact, statistically speaking, most people will. If you live in New Jersey, you will have three to four accidents in your lifetime. That means every single person in this room is one patch of black ice or one mechanical failure away from a $15,000 debt and a prison cell.
Under this ordinance, if your vehicle spills gasoline or oil in an accident — even if it is purely accidental — you can be charged thousands of dollars in cleanup costs.
And if you cannot pay within 45 days, you could face jail time. That should concern every resident of Bridgewater.
Who’s the next name tied to this ordinance’s human cost? It could be yours.
To the three new members of this governing body: You were elected to bring change. You have the power to fix this. This isn’t a Republican issue or Democrat issue, it’s a Bridgewater issue. I voted “no” on this Ordinance change back then, but Bridgewater needs you to take the action needed now. Now is the time to deliver the change you promised.
Revoke the enforcement provisions of Section 40-6. Let’s stop this unfair money grab by Tax King Mayor Moench. Let’s stop threatening our residents with jail for the "crime" of being in a car accident.
Let’s stand for a Bridgewater that values people over the unjust billing policies of Tax King Mayor Moench.
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