Bill Text: NJ A4458 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires use of headlights on motor vehicles when motor vehicle is operated in an area of highway construction or repair.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-11-25 - Reported out of Assembly Comm. with Amendments, 2nd Reading [A4458 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-A4458-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOHN S. WISNIEWSKI
District 19 (Middlesex)
Assemblyman JOHN F. AMODEO
District 2 (Atlantic)
Assemblyman VINCENT PRIETO
District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)
Assemblyman THOMAS P. GIBLIN
District 34 (Essex and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen DeAngelo and Egan
SYNOPSIS
Requires use of headlights on motor vehicles when motor vehicle is operated in an area of highway construction or repair.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the use of headlights on motor vehicles and amending R.S.39:3-46.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. R.S. 39:3-46 is amended to read as follows:
39:3-46. As used in this article, unless the context requires another or different construction:
"Approved" means approved by the commission and when applied to lamps and other illuminating devices means that such lamps and devices must be in good working order and capable of operating at least 50% of their designed efficiency.
"Area of highway construction or repair" means that segment of any highway which is identified by properly posted traffic control devices or signs as undergoing construction, reconstruction, repair, or maintenance operation. An area of highway construction or repair shall consist of that area between the first traffic control device or sign informing motor vehicle operators of their approaching highway construction or repair and the last traffic control device or sign indicating all restrictions are removed and normal motor vehicle operations may resume.
"Vehicle" means every device in, upon or by which a person or property is or may be transported upon a highway, excepting devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.
"When lighted lamps are required" means at any time from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise; whenever rain, mist, snow, or other precipitation or atmospheric moisture requires the use of windshield wipers by motorists; [and] during any time when, due to smoke, fog, unfavorable atmospheric conditions, or for any other cause there is not sufficient light to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of 500 feet ahead ; or when a vehicle is operated in an area of highway construction or repair.
"Headlamp" means a major lighting device capable of providing general illumination ahead of a vehicle.
"Auxiliary driving lamp" means an additional lighting device on a motor vehicle used primarily to supplement the headlamps in providing general illumination ahead of a vehicle.
"Single beam headlamps" means headlamps or similar devices arranged so as to permit the driver of the vehicle to use but one distribution of light on the road.
"Multiple-beam headlamps" means headlamps or similar devices arranged so as to permit the driver of the vehicle to use one of two or more distributions of light on the road.
"Asymmetric headlamps" means headlamps or similar devices arranged so as to permit the driver of the vehicle to use one of several distributions of light on the road, at least one of which is asymmetric about the median vertical axis.
"Clear road beam" means the beam from multiple-beam headlamps designed to be used when not approaching other vehicles and designed to provide sufficient candlepower ahead to reveal obstacles at a safe distance ahead under ordinary conditions of road contour and of vehicle loading.
"Meeting beam" means the beam from multiple beam or asymmetric headlamps designed to be used when other vehicles are approaching within 500 feet or when signaled and designed so that the illumination on the left side of the road is reduced sufficiently to avoid dangerous glare for the approaching driver.
"Lower beam" means the beam from multiple beam or asymmetric headlamps designed to be directed low enough to avoid dangerous glare on both sides of the roadway.
"Reflector" means an approved device designed and used to give an indication by reflected light.
(cf: P.L.2003, c.13, s.104)
2. The Commissioner of Transportation, in consultation with the Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety in the Department of Law and Public Safety, shall develop public awareness programs and use variable message signs to inform motorists of their duty to use headlamps when operating a motor vehicle in an area of highway construction or repair pursuant to R.S.39:3-47.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the use of headlights when a motor vehicle is operated in an area of highway construction or repair. The bill defines "an area of highway construction or repair" as that segment of any highway which is identified by properly posted traffic control devices or signs as undergoing construction, reconstruction, repair, or maintenance operation. An area of highway construction or repair shall consist of that area between the first traffic control device or sign informing motor vehicle operators of their approaching highway construction or repair and the last traffic control device or sign indicating all restrictions are removed and normal motor vehicle operations may resume.
The bill also requires the Commissioner of Transportation, in consultation with the Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety in the Department of Law and Public Safety, to develop public awareness programs and use variable message signs to inform motorists of their duty to use headlamps when operating a motor vehicle in an area of highway construction or repair.
