Teens Stretched Plastic Wrap Across Highway, Cause Motorcycle Accident

Four teens in Colts Neck, New Jersey were arrested last week for stretching plastic wrap across a highway--a stunt that caused a minor motorcycle accident.

Though the cyclist was not harmed, local police are now accusing the 13- and 14-year-old boys of terrorizing the town for days prior, breaking mailboxes, strewing trash, tampering with a child's swing set, and wrapping a neighbor's vehicle in the industrial-strength plastic.

The teens have been charged with interference of transportation, theft, harassment, and criminal mischief.

Putting aside the more common charges, let's take a look at interference of transportation, which is a crime in many states, but is not often talked about.

Aiming to prevent transportation accidents, New Jersey's law specifically outlaws "casting, shooting, throwing or otherwise placing any stick, stone, object or other substance upon any highway or roadway" if it "endangers or obstructs the safe operation of motor vehicles."

In addition to being accused of stretching plastic wrap across a highway, the teens are also accused of stretching duct tape across Colts Neck roads.

Though one wouldn't immediately think that industrial-strength plastic wrap and duct tape are objects that impede road safety, this isn't actually the case.

Whether the motorcyclist crashed into the plastic or was forced to veer from the road, the incident shows that items strung across highways alarm drivers, which can lead to accidents and unsafe road conditions.

So while stretching plastic wrap across a highway seems like a ridiculous prank, these Colts Neck teens could have caused serious injuries.

Related Resources:

• Four teens accused of stretching plastic wrap across Colts Neck highway (Associated Press)
• Vandalism (FindLaw)
• Graffiti Grandpa Vandalized Fla. Streets for 6 Years (FindLaw's Legally Weird)