Bill Text: NJ A470 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires van accessible handicapped parking spaces be used exclusively by handicapped equipped vans.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities Committee [A470 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A470-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman JOAN M. VOSS
District 38 (Bergen)
Assemblywoman SHEILA Y. OLIVER
District 34 (Essex and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Wagner
SYNOPSIS
Requires van accessible handicapped parking spaces be used exclusively by handicapped equipped vans.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning van accessible handicapped parking and amending P.L.1977, c.202 and R.S.39:4-198.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1977, c.202 (C.39:4-197.5) is amended to read as follows:
a. Any municipality may, by ordinance, resolution or regulation, establish restricted parking spaces in front of residences, schools, hospitals and other public buildings and in shopping and business districts for use by persons who have been issued special vehicle identification cards by the Division of Motor Vehicles pursuant to the provisions of section 2 of P.L.1949, c.280 (C.39:4-205), when using a motor vehicle on which is displayed a certificate, for which a special vehicle identification card has been issued, pursuant to section 3 of said law (C.39:4-206).
b. No motor vehicle with a special vehicle identification card issued pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1949, c.280 (C.39:4-206) shall be parked in a restricted parking space which has been designated as van accessible unless that vehicle is a van equipped with a wheelchair lift or similar device for the handicapped. A person who violates the provisions of this subsection shall be fined $100. This subsection shall not apply if only one restricted parking space is required.
(cf: P.L.1980, c.178, s.2)
2. R.S.39:4-198 is amended to read as follows:
39:4-198. a. No ordinance, resolution or regulation enacted, passed, or adopted by local authorities nor any regulation adopted by the Commissioner of Transportation under any power given by this chapter or any supplement thereto shall be effective unless due notice thereof is given to the public by placing a sign at the places where the ordinance, resolution or regulation is effective, and by briefing its provisions on signs according to specifications contained in this chapter or as specified by the current Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for streets and highways. These signs shall be so placed as to be easily read by pedestrians or operators of vehicles. Except, in the case of "No Passing" zones, in lieu of or in addition to signs, notice shall be given to the public by highway pavement markings which conform to the current Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for streets and highways.
b. In addition to the
specifications in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, any sign
erected after the effective date of
[this amendatory
and supplementary act]
P.L.1989, c.201 to notify the public that parking in a space is reserved
for the handicapped shall also state the penalties set forth in paragraph c. of
subsection (3) of R.S.39:4-197 which may be imposed for a violation. Signs
which were erected prior to the effective date shall be modified within 12 months
after the effective date to include the penalty information.
c. Any sign notifying the public that a parking space reserved for the handicapped is van accessible shall be modified to state that only a van equipped with a wheelchair lift or similar device for the handicapped may be parked in the space as provided under subsection b. of P.L.1977, c.202 (39:4-197.5). The sign also shall state that a violator shall be fined $100. This subsection shall not apply if only one restricted parking space is required.
(cf: P.L.1989, c.201, s.5)
3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the thirteenth month after enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes that only vans equipped with a wheelchair lift or similar device for the handicapped may park in "van accessible" handicapped parking spaces. The fine for a violation under the bill is $100.
Under current federal law and State regulation, at least one of every eight handicapped parking spaces must be van accessible. Van accessible parking spaces are wider to accommodate a wheelchair lift, have higher vertical clearance specifications, and require a sign identifying the space as van accessible.
Currently, any motor vehicle for which a special identification card has been issued, including passenger motor vehicles, may be parked in a van accessible handicapped parking space. This bill limits parking in these spaces to authorized vans.
