Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman AMY H. HANDLIN
District 13 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Provides that members of first aid, rescue and ambulance squads and Offices of Emergency Management are exempt from prohibition against talking or texting on hand-held device while driving under certain circumstances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning members of first aid, rescue and ambulance squads and Offices of Emergency Management and amending P.L.2003, c.310.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 2 of P.L.2003, c.310 (C.39:4-97.4) is amended to read as follows:
2. The prohibitions set forth in this act shall not be applicable to any of the following persons while in the actual performance of their official duties: a law enforcement officer; a member of a paid, part-paid, or volunteer fire department or company; a member of a volunteer or nonvolunteer first aid, rescue and ambulance squad; a member of a State, county, or municipal Office of Emergency Management; or an operator of an authorized emergency vehicle.
(cf: P.L.2003, c.310, s.2)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides that members of first aid, rescue and ambulance squads and Offices of Emergency Management are exempt from the prohibition against talking or texting on a hand-held device while driving under certain circumstances.
Under current law, talking or texting on a hand-held wireless device while driving is prohibited, with certain limited exceptions. This prohibition does not apply to the following persons while in the actual performance of their official duties: a law enforcement officer; a member of a paid, part-paid, or volunteer fire department or company; or an operator of an authorized emergency vehicle.
This bill clarifies that the prohibition also does not apply to members of a volunteer or nonvolunteer first aid, rescue and ambulance squad or members of a State, county, or municipal Office of Emergency Management while in the actual performance of their official duties.