NorthJersey

Regarding “N.J. government moves to regulate short-term rentals” (Page 1A, Feb. 2):

Municipalities that impose restrictions or bans on short-term rentals illustrate a major problem with government. A new service, like Airbnb, is created. Thousands of owners and renters embrace it in a responsible way and benefit from it. A few problems arise, so towns create restrictions that penalize the vast majority of those using the service responsibly.

In instances where there have been complaints, they tend to be because of misbehavior like excessive noise, illegal parking and littering. Towns already have laws on the books to stop and to punish such activities.

The real crime here is that elected officials are willing to subject decent, upstanding owners in their towns to fines of up to $1,000 per day and/or 30 days in jail.

Jim Tosone

Washington Township, Feb, 2

The writer is vice chair of the New Jersey Libertarian Party