Bill Text: NJ A4181 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires DOT to create automated system to report traffic accidents and requires political subdivisions to report data; makes appropriation.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-10-13 - Reported and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee [A4181 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-A4181-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ELIZABETH MAHER MUOIO
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Requires DOT to create automated system to report traffic accidents and requires political subdivisions to report data; makes appropriation.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act requiring the Department of Transportation to maintain certain traffic accident records, supplementing Title 27 of the Revised Statutes, and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. For the purposes of P.L. c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):
"Department" means New Jersey Department of Transportation.
"Law enforcement agency" means a department, division, bureau, commission, board or other authority of the State or of any political subdivision thereof which employs law enforcement officers.
"Law enforcement officer" means a person whose public duties include the power to act as an officer for the detection, apprehension, arrest and conviction of offenders against the laws of this State.
"Political subdivision" means any local political subdivision of this State, including but not limited to a municipality, a county, a township, a district, or a special district.
"Vehicular traffic accident" or "accident" means any incident involving the collision of a motor vehicle, as defined in R.S.39:1-1, or motorcycle with another motor vehicle, motorcycle, bicycle, pedestrian, property, or other structure, impediment, or barrier.
2. a. The department, in consultation with the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, shall create an automated system for the electronic entry, retrieval, and exchange of data related to vehicular traffic accidents on highways and at intersections under the jurisdiction of political subdivisions of the State.
b. The department shall oversee the development and maintenance of the automated system, which shall collect and track the data received pursuant to subsection c. of this section. Each political subdivision shall be afforded access to the automated system to enter and retrieve data related to vehicular traffic accidents on highways or intersections under which the political subdivision has jurisdiction and shall not be required to bear any portion of the cost of administration, operation, development, or maintenance of the system created pursuant to subsection a. of this section.
c. The data maintained in the automated system shall include the following information, organized by county:
(1) The municipality in which the accident took place;
(2) The highway on or intersection at which the accident took place;
(3) The date of the accident;
(4) The posted speed limit on the highway where the accident took place;
(5) If at an intersection, the type of traffic control device located at the intersection;
(6) Any fatality or injury resulting from the accident;
(7) Any police report related to the accident; and
(8) Any other information deemed useful by the department concerning vehicular traffic accidents.
3. a. A political subdivision shall, within 60 days of a vehicular traffic accident on a highway or at an intersection over which the political subdivision has jurisdiction, enter the data provided for in subsection c. of section 2 of P.L. c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), into the automated system established pursuant to subsection a. of section 2 of P.L. c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
b. If a vehicular traffic accident takes place on a highway or at an intersection over which multiple political subdivisions share jurisdiction, the political subdivision associated with the law enforcement agency responding to the vehicular traffic accident shall, within 60 days of the vehicular traffic accident, enter the data provided for in subsection c. of section 2 of P.L. c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), into the automated system established pursuant to subsection a. of section 2 of P.L. c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
4. The Commissioner of Transportation shall, pursuant to the provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt rules and regulations as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of P.L. c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
5. There is appropriated to the political subdivisions of this State from the General Fund sums as may be necessary, as certified by the department, to fund the entry and maintenance of data in the automated system created pursuant to section 2 of P.L. c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
6. This act shall take effect upon the first day of the 13th month following enactment; but the Department of Transportation may take any anticipatory actions necessary for the timely implementation of the provisions of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to create an automated system (DOT information system) for the electronic entry, retrieval, and exchange of data related to vehicular traffic accidents on highways and at intersections under the jurisdiction of political subdivisions of the State.
Under the bill, the DOT is to oversee the development and maintenance of the DOT information system. Each political subdivision is to be afforded access to enter and retrieve data related to traffic accidents on highways or at intersections over which the political subdivision has jurisdiction. The political subdivisions are not to be required to bear any portion of the cost of administration, operation, development, or maintenance of the DOT information system.
The DOT information system is to include the following data, organized by county:
(1) The municipality in which the accident took place;
(2) The highway on or intersection at which the accident took place;
(3) The date of the accident;
(4) The posted speed limit on the highway where the accident took place;
(5) If at an intersection, the type of traffic control device located at the intersection;
(6) Any fatality or injury resulting from the accident;
(7) Any police report related to the accident; and
(8) Any other information deemed useful by the DOT concerning vehicular traffic accidents.
Under the bill, a political subdivision is required to, within 60 days of a vehicular traffic accident on a highway or at an intersection over which the political subdivision has jurisdiction, enter the aforementioned data into the DOT information system. If a vehicular traffic accident takes place on a highway or at an intersection over which multiple political subdivisions share jurisdiction, the political subdivision associated with the responding law enforcement agency is required to, within 60 days of the vehicular traffic accident, enter the data into the DOT information system.
Lastly, the bill appropriates from the General Fund to the political subdivisions sums as may be necessary, as certified by the DOT, to fund the entry of data into and maintenance of data within the DOT information system.
