Bill Text: NJ A3739 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Criminalizes the use of "signal jammers."

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-09-19 - Reported and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee [A3739 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2024-A3739-Introduced.html

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ASSEMBLY, No. 3739

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 22, 2024

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Criminalizes the use of "signal jammers."

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

An Act concerning certain interference with communications and amending P.L.2005, c.293.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    Section 1 of P.L.2005, c.293 (C.2C:33-23.1) is amended to read as follows:

     1.    A person shall not:

     a.     Make, or cause to be made, a radio transmission of energy in this State unless the person obtains a license, or an exemption from licensure, from the Federal Communications Commission pursuant to 47 U.S.C. s.301, or other applicable federal law or regulation; or

     b.    Do any act to cause an unlicensed radio transmission of energy or interference with a public or commercial radio station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission or to enable the radio transmission of energy or interference to occur[.];

     c.     Interfere with or cause interference to any radio communications of any station licensed or authorized by or under any federal law or regulation or operated by the United States government; or

     d.    In violation of federal law or regulation, use any scanning receiver that is capable of

     (1)   receiving transmissions in the frequencies allocated to the domestic cellular radio telecommunications service;

     (2)   readily being altered by the user to receive transmissions in such frequencies; or

     (3)   being equipped with decoders that convert digital cellular transmissions to analog voice audio.

     e.     As used in this section, "radio transmission of energy" has the same meaning given that term under 47 U.S.C. s.153.

(cf: P.L.2005, c.293, s.1)

 

     2.    Section 2 of P.L.2005, c.293 (C.2C:33-23.2) is amended to read as follows:

     2.    A person who violates the provisions of [this act] P.L.2005, c.293 as amended by P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

(cf: P.L.2005, c.293, s.2)

 

     3.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill would criminalize the use of "signal jammers" under

State law.  Such devices are already illegal under federal law.

     "Signal jammers," which are also known as signal blockers, GPS jammers, cell phone jammers, and text blockers, are radio frequency transmitters that are designed to block, jam, or otherwise interfere with authorized radio communications. These devices can prevent cell phones from making or receiving calls, texts, and emails; block Wi-Fi devices from connecting to the Internet; prevent a GPS from receiving correct positioning signals; and prevent a first responder from locating a person in an emergency.

     Under current New Jersey law, it is a crime of the fourth degree to: (1) make, or cause to be made, a radio transmission of energy in this State unless the person obtains a license, or an exemption from licensure, from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) pursuant to applicable federal law or regulation, or

     (2) do any act to cause an unlicensed radio transmission of energy or interference with a public or commercial radio station licensed by the FCC or to enable the radio transmission of energy or interference to occur.

     This bill provides that it would also be a crime of the fourth degree to interfere with or cause interference to any radio communications of any station licensed or authorized by or under any federal law or regulation or operated by the United States government; or, in violation of federal law or regulation, to use any scanning receiver that is capable of:

     (1)   receiving transmissions in the frequencies allocated to the domestic cellular radio telecommunications service,

     (2)   readily being altered by the user to receive transmissions in such frequencies, or

     (3)   being equipped with decoders that convert digital cellular transmissions to analog voice audio.

     The provisions of this bill are also set out in federal law, specifically in  47 U.S.C. s.301 and 47 U.S.C. s.333.