This summer has brought very high temperatures to New Jersey, making residents seek out solace at the beach and in swimming pools. A large number of residential properties in New Jersey have swimming pools on them, which is great to keep the entire family cool. However, it is important that residential pool owners take precautions to ensure that anyone who enters their pool is safe from the possibilities of falling in and drowning. As tragic as it is, it is estimated that roughly 350 children who are under the age of 5 drown in swimming pools annually. In response to those alarming rates, New Jersey enacted William’s Law, which requires residential pool owners to abide by regulations of swimming pool safety.
Some of the provisions of this law are as follows:
- A swimming pool must be entirely enclosed by a barrier, a wall, or a fence that is at least 5 feet tall. Additionally, the barrier shall not be able to fit a spherical object that is four inches in diameter through any openings.
- The barrier must be secured by a padlock or similar locking device that has a latch located at least 54 inches above the ground
Individuals who fail to abide by these laws will be subject to a disorderly persons offense. This can be redacted if they have made a good faith effort to remedy the issue within 45 days.
If you have been injured on someone else’s property due to negligence, contact us today.
Our firm understands how serious criminal and personal injury cases are. We are prepared to guide you towards a favorable outcome. If you are in need of experienced legal counsel in New Jersey, please contact The Law Office of Andrew S. Maze today for any criminal and personal injury matters.