Christie Vetoes N.J. Bill That Would Require Sprinklers In New Home Construction

TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Thursday conditionally vetoed legislation requiring sprinkler systems in all new home construction.

Christie announced the decision on Thursday. He says that mandating sprinkler installation would increase the cost of new homes by thousands of dollars.

Instead, he called on the state government to analyze whether sprinklers would be appropriate in townhouses, where the cost may be lower.

In a statement accompanying his veto, Christie said he is concerned with the bill's inflexibility and adds that different buildings have different needs.

The bill was first introduced in January 2014, but passed both houses of the Legislature in March after a January apartment fire in Edgewater left about 500 residents homeless.

The Avalon at Edgewater complex did have sprinklers, which Edgewater Fire Chief Thomas Jacobson said were working and went off at the time of the fire. But they were no match for the flames that swept through the lightweight wood construction complex.

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