State Sen. Bob Smith (D-17th District) is pushing legislation that would make it a crime for a person to alter the appearance a toy gun.

"What this bill is intended to do is make it a crime to take the orange tip off the gun or to paint or obscure it," says Smith.

The bill is in response to a recent incident involving a Fort Lee man flashing a fake gun in a city park. The man had removed the orange tip at the end of the toy that's required by law.

A passerby saw the man flash the gun and called police. The suspect is now facing charges.

"It can honestly pose a serious problem for officers, but [an] even more serious problem for the person with the weapon," says Det. Sgt. Wayne Monico, of the Fort Lee Police Department.

If passed, violators could be fined up to $10,000 and sentenced to up to 18 months behind bars. New Jersey would join 12 other states with similar laws regarding fake guns if the legislation goes through.

For more on the legislation, go to channel 612 on your iO digital cable box and select iO Extra.