Bill Text: NJ A3572 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires drivers to reduce speed when overtaking bicyclists or pedestrians.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-09-11 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee [A3572 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A3572-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman CAROLINE CASAGRANDE
District 11 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Requires drivers to reduce speed when overtaking bicyclists or pedestrians.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the operation of motor vehicles and supplementing Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The driver of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicyclist or a pedestrian shall reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to 20 miles per hour until the vehicle has safely passed the bicyclist or pedestrian. This provision shall only apply when a driver of a motor vehicle is in a lane adjacent to the bicyclist or pedestrian.
b. For the purposes of this section, "pedestrian" shall include, but not be limited to, a pedestrian as defined in R.S.39:1-1, a person in a wheelchair or motorized wheelchair as defined in R.S.39:1-1, a person employed by or who contracts with any public utility company in this State, a property maintenance worker, or any other person who is legally permitted to be upon the roadway for work or recreation.
c. A person violating the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500.
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires drivers to reduce the speed of their motor vehicles when overtaking a bicyclist or pedestrian.
Specifically, under the provisions of this bill, the driver of a motor vehicle that is overtaking a bicyclist or pedestrian is required to reduce the speed of his or her vehicle to 20 miles per hour until the vehicle has safely passed the bicyclist or pedestrian. However, this requirement would only apply when a driver of a vehicle is in a lane adjacent to the bicyclist or pedestrian.
Lastly, under the bill the penalty for a violation is a fine of $100 to $500.
