Upgrades crime of stalking when stalking activity is carried out or assisted by installation or use of communication or location monitoring program or device on cellular phone or wireless mobile device.

This bill amends New Jersey's stalking law to increase penalties when a perpetrator uses a device or program on the victim's phone to monitor communications or location. Normally, stalking is a fourth-degree crime (up to 18 months in prison and $10,000 fine), but if the stalking involves installing or using a monitoring tool on the victim's cellular or wireless device to intercept calls, messages, or track location, it becomes a third-degree crime (3-5 years in prison and up to $15,000 fine). The law specifically targets the misuse of common apps or preinstalled software, which are widely available but often used without consent in stalking cases. This change directly affects victims of tech-assisted stalking and those who exploit phone monitoring tools to harass others.