Bill Text: NJ A2656 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Clarifies authority of municipal court to suspend driver's licenses.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-05-13 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities Committee [A2656 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A2656-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman REED GUSCIORA
District 15 (Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Clarifies authority of municipal court to suspend driver's licenses.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning motor vehicle driver's licenses and amending R.S.39:5-31.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. R.S.39:5-31 is amended to read as follows:
39:5-31. The [director] chief administrator or any [magistrate] municipal court judge before whom any hearing under this subtitle is had may revoke or suspend the license of any person to drive a motor vehicle, when such person shall have been guilty of such willful violation of any of the provisions of this subtitle as shall, in the discretion of the [magistrate] chief administrator or the municipal court judge, justify such revocation or suspension.
(cf: P.L.1953, c.36, s.30)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill clarifies the authority of the municipal courts to suspend, as well as revoke, driver's licenses.
On June 6, 2007, the Appellate Division expressed concern over the validity of the use of R.S.39:5-31 by municipal court judges to suspend driver's licenses, since the statute specifically only authorizes license revocations. This issue was not germane to the case, however, and the court declined to formally address it.
This bill would clarify the authority of municipal court judges to suspend, as well as revoke, driver's licenses.
The amendments also update certain references in the statute.
