New Jersey-2024-S1706-Introduced

An Act permitting the extension of certain motor vehicle registrations, amending various parts of the statutory law, and supplementing Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.

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

1. R.S.39:3-4 is amended to read as follows:

39:3-4. Except as hereinafter provided, every resident of this State and every nonresident whose automobile or motorcycle shall be driven in this State shall, before using the vehicle on the public highways, register the same, and an automobile or motorcycle shall not be driven unless so registered.

Registration shall be made in the following manner: An application in writing, signed by the applicant or by an agent or officer, in case the applicant is a corporation, shall be made to the chief administrator or the chief administrator's agent, on forms prepared and supplied by the chief administrator, containing the name, street address of the residence or the business of the owner, mailing address, if different from the street address of the owner's residence or business, and age of the owner, together with a description of the character of the automobile or motorcycle, including the name of the maker and the vehicle identification number, or the manufacturer's number or the number assigned by the chief administrator if the vehicle does not have a vehicle identification number, and any other statement that may be required by the chief administrator. A post office box shall appear on the application only as part of a mailing address that is submitted by the owner, agent or officer, as the case may be, in addition to the street address of the applicant's residence or business; provided, however, the chief administrator, upon application, shall permit a person who was a victim of a violation of section 1 of P.L.1992, c.209 (C.2C:12-10), N.J.S.2C:14-2, or P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et seq.), or who the chief administrator otherwise determines to have good cause, to use as a mailing address a post office box, an address other than the applicant's address or other contact point. An owner whose last address appears on the records of the commission as a post office box shall change the owner's address on the owner's application for renewal to the street address of the owner's residence or business and, if different from the owner's street address, the owner's mailing address unless the chief administrator has determined, pursuant to this section, that the owner may use a post office box, an address other than the owner's address or other contact point as a mailing address. The application shall contain the name of the insurer of the vehicle and the policy number. If the vehicle is a leased motor vehicle, the application shall make note of that fact and shall include along with the name and street address of the lessor the name, street address, and driver license number of the lessee.

Thereupon the chief administrator shall have the power to grant a registration certificate to the owner of any motor vehicle, if over 17 years of age, application for the registration having been properly made and the fee therefor paid, and the vehicle being of a type that complies with the requirements of this Title. The form and contents of the registration certificate to be issued shall be determined by the chief administrator.

If the vehicle is a leased motor vehicle, the registration certificate shall, in addition to containing the name and street address of the lessor, identify the vehicle as a leased motor vehicle. The chief administrator may send the registration certificate directly to the lessee.

The chief administrator shall maintain a record of all registration certificates issued, and of the contents thereof.

Every registration, except as otherwise authorized by this section, shall expire and the registration certificate thereof become void on the registrant's numerical calendar day of birth in the 12th calendar month following the calendar month in which the certificate was issued; except that the registration shall expire on the last day of the 12th calendar month following the calendar month in which the certificate was issued if the numerical calendar day of the registrant's birth does not correspond to a numerical calendar day in that month or if the vehicle is a leased motor vehicle.

The chief administrator may, at the chief administrator's discretion, require registrations which shall expire, and issue certificates thereof which shall become void, on a date fixed by [him] the chief administrator, which date shall not be sooner than three months nor later than 26 months after the date of issuance of the certificates, and the fees for the registrations, including any other fees or charges collected in connection with the registration fee, shall be fixed by the chief administrator in amounts proportionately less or greater than the fees established by law. The chief administrator may fix the expiration date for registration certificates at a date other than 12 months if the chief administrator determines that the change is necessary, appropriate or convenient in order to aid in implementing the vehicle inspection requirements of chapter 8 of Title 39 or for other good cause. The chief administrator may, for good cause extend a registration beyond the expiration date that appears upon the registration certificate for periods not to exceed 12 additional months. The chief administrator may extend the expiration date of a registration without payment of a proportionate fee when the chief administrator determines that the extension is necessary for good cause. If any registration is so extended, the owner shall pay upon renewal the full registration fee for the period fixed by the chief administrator as if no extension had been granted.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, every registration for new passenger automobiles shall expire and the registration certificate shall become void on the registrant's numerical calendar day of birth in the 48thcalendar month following the calendar month in which the certificate was initially issued; except that the registration shall expire on the last day of the 48th calendar month following the calendar month in which the certificate was initially issued if the numerical calendar day of the registrant's birth does not correspond to a numerical calendar day in that month.

On and after February 1, 2005, the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to new passenger automobiles purchased by a rental company for use as rental passenger automobiles. As used in this paragraph, "rental company" means a person engaged in the business of renting motor vehicles; and "rental passenger automobile" means a passenger automobile that is rented without a driver and used in the transportation of persons or property other than commercial freight.

If the new passenger automobile being registered is a leased passenger automobile, the registration shall expire in accordance with the term of the lease. If the term of the lease extends beyond one or more 12-month periods by one or more months, the registration period shall be based upon the full year into which one or more of the months extend; provided, however, the registration period for a leased automobile shall not exceed 48 months.

[Following the 48-month period of the initial registration of a new passenger automobile, the subsequent registration shall expire, and the registration certificate shall become void, on the registrant's numerical calendar day of birth in the 12th calendar month following the calendar month in which the certificate was next issued; except that the registration shall expire on the last day of the 12th calendar month following the calendar month in which the certificate was next issued if the numerical calendar day of the registrant's birth does not correspond to a numerical calendar day in that month]

The owner of a passenger automobile may elect to register a passenger automobile, that is not a new passenger automobile or leased passenger automobile, for a period of 24 months and the registration certificate shall expire and become void on the registrant's numerical calendar day of birth in the 24th calendar month after issuance, respectively; except that the registration shall expire on the last day of the 24th calendar month, as applicable, following the calendar month in which the certificate was issued if the numerical calendar day of the registrant's birth does not correspond to a numerical calendar day in that month. Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter or change any expiration date of any registration for a passenger automobile issued prior to the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and, unless such registration is suspended or revoked, that registration shall remain valid until its expiration date.

All motorcycles for which registrations have been issued prior to the effective date of P.L.1989, c.167 and which are scheduled to expire between November 1 and March 31 shall, upon renewal, be issued registrations by the chief administrator which shall expire on a date fixed by [him] the chief administrator, but in no case shall that expiration date be earlier than April 30 nor later than October 31. The fees for the renewal of the motorcycle registrations authorized under this paragraph shall be fixed by the chief administrator in an amount proportionately less or greater than the fee established by R.S.39:3-21.

Application forms for all renewals of registrations for passenger automobiles shall be sent to the last addresses of owners of motor vehicles and motorcycles, as they appear on the records of the commission, except that the application form for a renewal of registration for a leased passenger automobile shall be sent to the last address of the lessee of the motor vehicle as it appears on the records of the commission.

A person owning or having control over any unregistered vehicle shall not permit the same to be parked or to stand on a public highway.

Any police officer is authorized to remove any unregistered vehicle from the public highway to a storage space or garage, and the expense involved in the removal and storing of the vehicle shall be borne by the owner of the vehicle, except that the expense shall be borne by the lessee of a leased vehicle.

Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine not exceeding $100, except that for the misstatement of any fact in the application required to be made to the chief administrator, the person making the statement or omitting the statement that the motor vehicle is to be used as a leased motor vehicle when that is the case shall be subject to the penalties provided in R.S.39:3-37.

The chief administrator may extend the expiration date of a registration certificate without payment of a proportionate fee when the chief administrator determines that the extension is necessary, appropriate or convenient to the implementation of vehicle inspection requirements. If any registration certificate is so extended, the owner shall pay upon renewal the full registration fee for the period fixed by the chief administrator as if no extension had been granted.

The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall make a reasonable effort to notify any lessor whose name and address is on file with the commission, or any other lessor the commission may determine it is necessary to notify, of the requirements of this amendatory act.

A lessor doing business in this State shall notify in writing the lessee of a motor vehicle registered pursuant to this Title of any change in its policies or procedures affecting the registration of the motor vehicle.

(cf: P.L.2021, c.258, s.1)

2. R.S.39:3-8 is amended to read as follows:

39:3-8. The applicant for registration for any passenger automobile manufactured in any model year prior to the 1971 model year shall pay to the chief administrator for each registration a fee of $14 for each such vehicle having a manufacturer's shipping weight of less than 2,700 pounds, a fee of $23 for each such vehicle having a manufacturer's shipping weight of 2,700 pounds or more, but not greater than 3,800 pounds, and a fee of $44 for each vehicle having a manufacturer's shipping weight in excess of 3,800 pounds; provided, however, an applicant who has been issued an identification card for a person with a disability pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1949, c.280 (C.39:4-205) and is registering a private passenger van manufactured in any model year prior to the 1971 model year which has been equipped with a wheelchair lift, or any other specially designed mechanical device for persons with disabilities as designated by the chief administrator that specifically requires installation only in a private passenger van because of the device's dimensions, operating characteristics, or manufacturer's installation requirements, shall pay a fee of $14 for that vehicle.

The applicant for registration for any passenger automobile manufactured in model year 1971 and thereafter, except as determined hereinafter, shall pay to the chief administrator for each registration a fee of $17 for each such vehicle having a manufacturer's shipping weight of less than 2,700 pounds, a fee of $28 for each such vehicle having a manufacturer's shipping weight of 2,700 pounds or more, but not greater than 3,800 pounds, and a fee of $51 for each such vehicle having a manufacturer's shipping weight in excess of 3,800 pounds; provided, however, an applicant who has been issued an identification card for a person with a disability pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1949, c.280 (C.39:4-205) and is registering a private passenger van manufactured in model year 1971 or thereafter, except as determined hereinafter, which has been equipped with a wheelchair lift, or any other specially designed mechanical device for persons with disabilities as designated by the chief administrator that specifically requires installation only in a private passenger van because of the device's dimensions, operating characteristics, or manufacturer's installation requirements, shall pay a fee of $17 for that vehicle.

The applicant for registration for any 1980 or thereafter model year passenger automobile registered on or after March 1, 1979 shall pay to the chief administrator for each registration a fee of $25 for each such vehicle having a manufacturer's shipping weight not greater than 3,500 pounds and a fee of $50 for each vehicle having a manufacturer's shipping weight in excess of 3,500 pounds; provided, however, an applicant who has been issued an identification card for a person with a disability pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1949, c.280 (C.39:4-205) and is registering any 1980 or thereafter model year private passenger van which has been equipped with a wheelchair lift, or any other specially designed mechanical device for persons with disabilities as designated by the chief administrator that specifically requires installation only in a private passenger van because of the device's dimensions, operating characteristics, or manufacturer's installation requirements, shall pay a fee of $25 for that vehicle.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the applicant for registration for any new passenger automobile, for which the registration will expire on the last day of the 48th calendar month following the calendar month in which it was first issued, or for the term of the lease if the new passenger automobile is a leased motor vehicle subject to an extended registration period pursuant to R.S.39:3-4, shall prepay to the chief administrator the full amount due for the 48-monthterm, or the full amount due based upon the term of the lease if the new passenger automobile is a leased motor vehicle, upon the initial registration. The portion of that prepayment that is dedicated to specific purposes in accordance with section 110 of P.L.2003, c.13 (C.39:2A-38) and subsections a. [and], b., and c. of section 1 of P.L.1992, c.87 (C.39:3-8.2) shall be deposited in their respective dedicated accounts.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a person applying to register a passenger automobile, that is not a new passenger automobile or a leased passenger automobile, for a period of 24 months pursuant to R.S.39:3-4, shall prepay to the chief administrator the full amount due for the registration period of the passenger automobile. The portion of that prepayment that is collected in accordance with section 110 of P.L.2003, c.13 (C.39:2A-38) and subsections a., b., and c. of section 1 of P.L.1992, c.87 (C.39:3-8.2) shall be deposited in accounts in the same manner as fees imposed and collected pursuant to section 110 of P.L.2003, c.13 (C.39:2A-38) and section 1 of P.L.1992, c.87 (C.39:3-8.2), as applicable.

The chief administrator shall determine the manufacturer's shipping weight and model year for each passenger automobile on the basis of the information contained in the certificate of origin, the application for registration or for renewal of registration, or the records of the [division] commission, or any or all of these; and any case in which the manufacturer's shipping weight of any particular passenger automobile is unavailable, or in doubt or dispute, the chief administrator may require that such automobile be weighed on a scale designated by the chief administrator, and such actual weight shall be considered the manufacturer's shipping weight for the purposes of this section; but in all cases the chief administrator's determination of the manufacturer's shipping weight of any such automobile shall be final. The applicant for registration for a passenger automobile shall also pay to the chief administrator the inspection fee fixed in R.S.39:8-2 in addition to the fees described hereinabove.

The chief administrator may also license private utility and house type semitrailers and trailers with a gross load not in excess of 2,000 pounds at a fee of $4 per annum and all other such utility and house-type semitrailers and trailers at $9 per annum. Application for such registration shall be made on a blank to be furnished by the commission, and the application shall contain a statement to the effect that the vehicle so registered will not be used for the commercial transportation of goods, wares, and merchandise, or for hire.

Except as provided in R.S.39:3-84 for recreation vehicles, no private utility or house type semitrailer or trailer with an outside width of more than 96 inches, a maximum height of 13 feet 6 inches, a maximum length for a single vehicle of more than 35 feet, a maximum length for a semitrailer and its towing vehicle of more than 45 feet, and a maximum length for a trailer and its towing vehicle of more than 50 feet, shall be operated on any highway in this State, except that a vehicle exceeding the above limitations may be operated when a special permit so to operate is secured in advance from the chief administrator. A house type semitrailer or trailer with an outside width of no more than 16 feet shall be entitled to operate with such a special permit if the vehicle is a manufactured home on a transportation system that is designed in accordance with the "Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards," [24 CFR section 3280.901] 24 C.F.R. s.3280.901 et seq., promulgated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, as amended and supplemented, provided that the operator complies with the provisions of this Title and the rules and regulations issued thereunder. If such a vehicle has an outside width of more than 16 feet, it shall be entitled to operate with such a special permit if it is transported on a commercial type low-bed trailer, semitrailer, or properly registered dolly wheels pursuant to rules and regulations established by the chief administrator. The application for such permit shall be accompanied by a fee fixed by the chief administrator. A special permit issued by the chief administrator shall be in the possession of the operator of the vehicle for which such permit was issued. In computing any dimensions of a vehicle, for the purposes of this section, there shall not be included in the dimensional limitations safety equipment such as mirrors or lights, provided such appliances do not exceed the overall limitations established by the chief administrator by rule or regulation.

(cf: P.L.2017, c.131, s.149)

3. Section 105 of P.L.2003, c.13 (C.39:2A-36) is amended to read as follows:

105. a. The first $200,000,000 of fees and surcharges thereon collected pursuant to the following statutes shall be considered service charges which are revenues to be remitted to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and the remainder shall be remitted to the General Fund, provided that if the total amount of such fees and surcharges collected, as verified by the relevant fiscal year New Jersey Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, produce more or less revenue than the sum of $200,000,000 and the amount anticipated in the fiscal year 2004 Appropriations Act for those statutes, then the $200,000,000 in revenue from those service charges to the commission shall be increased or lowered proportionately:

Section 4 of P.L.1995, c.401 (C.12:7-73); section 24 of P.L.1984, c.152 (C.12:7A-24); section 28 of P.L.1984, c.152 (C.12:7A-28); section 1 of P.L.1983, c.65 (C.17:29A-33); section 6 of P.L.1983, c.65 (C.17:29A-35); section 9 of P.L.1998, c.108 (C.27:5F-42); R.S.39:2-10; section 1 of P.L.1969, c.301
(C.39:3-4b); section 2 of P.L.1969, c.301 (C.39:3-4c); R.S.39:3-8; section 2 of P.L.1968, c.439 (C.39:3-8.1); section 1 of P.L.1992, c.87 (C.39:3-8.2); R.S.39:3-10; section 23 of P.L.1975, c.180 (C.39:3-10a); section 1 of P.L.1977, c.23 (C.39:3-10b); section 1 of P.L.1979, c.261 (C.39:3-10f); section 22 of P.L.1990, c.103 (C.39:3-10.30); R.S.39:3-13; R.S.39:3-18; R.S.39:3-19; section 2 of P.L.1974, c.162 (C.39:3-19.2); section 12 of P.L.1979, c.224 (C.39:3-19.5); R.S.39:3-20; section 1 of P.L.1973, c.319
(C.39:3-20.1); R.S.39:3-21; R.S.39:3-24; R.S.39:3-25; R.S.39:3-26; section 2 of P.L.1964, c.195 (C.39:3-27.4); section 2 of P.L.1968, c.247 (C.39:3-27.6); section 2 of P.L.1977, c.369 (C.39:3-27.9); section 2 of P.L.1979, c.457 (C.39:3-27.16); section 2 of P.L.1981, c.139 (C.39:3-27.19); R.S.39:3-28; R.S.39:3-30; R.S.39:3-31; section 1 of P.L.1961, c.77 (C.39:3-31.1); R.S.39:3-32; section 1 of P.L.1999, c.192 (C.39:3-33a); section 1 of P.L.2001, c.35
(C.39:3-33b); section 2 of P.L.1959, c.56 (C.39:3-33.4); section 4 of P.L.1959, c.56 (C.39:3-33.6); R.S.39:3-36; section 1 of P.L.1979, c.314 (C.39:3-54.14); section 2 of P.L.1999, c.308 (C.39:3-75.2); R.S.39:3-84; section 2 of P.L.1999, c.396 (C.39:3-84.7); section 3 of P.L.1973, c.307 (C.39:3C-3); section 10 of P.L. 1983, c.105 (C.39:4-14.3j); section 23 of P.L.1983, c.105 (C.39:4-14.3w); R.S.39:4-26; R.S.39:4-30; section 11 of P.L.1985, c.14
(C.39:4-139.12); section 1 of P.L.1972, c.38 (C.39:5-30.4); section 31 of P.L.1994, c.60 (C.39:5-36.1); section 20 of P.L.1952, c.173 (C.39:6-42); section 2 of P.L.1983, c.141 (C.39:6B-3); R.S.39:7-3; section 3 of P.L.1975, c.156 (C.39:8-11); section 8 of P.L.1975, c.156 (C.39:8-16); section 9 of P.L.1975, c.156 (C.39:8-17); section 15 of P.L.1975, c.156 (C.39:8-23); section 5 of P.L.1995, c.112 (C.39:8-45); section 7 of P.L.1995, c.112 (C.39:8-47); section 12 of P.L.1995, c.112 (C.39:8-52); section 11 of P.L.1995, c.157
(C.39:8-69); section 13 of P.L.1995, c.112 (C.39:8-53); section 14 of P.L. 1995, c.112 (C.39:8-54); R.S.39:10-11; R.S.39:10-12; R.S.39:10-14; R.S.39:10-16; R.S.39:10-19; R.S.39:10-25; section 5 of P.L.1983, c.323 (C.39:10-35); section 8 of P.L.1983, c.455 (C.39:10A-15); R.S.39:11-8; section 2 of P.L.1951, c.216
(C.39:12-2); section 5 of P.L.1951, c.216 (C.39:12-5); and section 2 of P.L.1983, c.360 (C.39:13-2).

Proportional revenues remitted to the commission for the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2004 and thereafter shall have the same proportion as the proportional revenues remitted to the commission for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2003, and this calculation shall not be impacted by the acceleration of revenue attributable to new passenger automobile registrations implemented pursuant to P.L.2004, c.64 or P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) or attributable to passenger automobile registrations that are valid for more than one year pursuant to
P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

b. In addition to the proportionately increased or lowered revenue provided for in subsection a. of this section, the commission shall receive 100 percent of the revenues collected from any new service charge and 100 percent of the increased revenues collected from any existing service charge increased by law or regulation. Any new or increased service charge shall not be included in the calculation of the proportional revenue remitted to the commission.

c. In addition to the revenues provided for in subsections a. and b. of this section, all fees collected pursuant to Chapter 3 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes required to defray the costs of the commission with respect to producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing license plates, or related computer programming shall be considered revenues of the commission notwithstanding any other provision of law.

d. Revenues of the commission shall not be subject to appropriation as direct State services by the Legislature. In addition, the revenues of the commission shall not be restricted from use by the commission in any manner except as provided by law. Revenues of the commission may be used in the furtherance of any purpose of the commission or as otherwise provided for by law.

(cf: P.L.2007, c.335, s.15)

4. R.S.39:3-31 is amended to read as follows:

39:3-31. a. The chief administrator, upon presentation of a statement duly sworn to, stating that the original registration certificate or original motorized bicycle registration certificate has been destroyed, lost or stolen, may, if the chief administrator is satisfied that the facts as set forth in the statement are substantially true, issue a duplicate or amended registration certificate or motorized bicycle registration certificate to the original holder thereof, upon the payment to the chief administrator of a fee of $5 for each duplicate or amended registration certificate or motorized bicycle registration certificate so issued. The chief administrator, upon presentation of a statement, duly sworn to, stating that the original driver's license has been destroyed, lost or stolen, or requesting a new color photograph, may, if the chief administrator is satisfied that the facts as set forth in the statement are substantially true, issue a duplicate driver's license to the original holder thereof, upon payment to the chief administrator of a fee of $5 in addition to the digitized photograph fee. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the fee for a duplicate or amended registration certificate for any new passenger automobile required to be registered for a 48-month term [or], for any new passenger automobile leased for a term of more than 12 months, or for a passenger automobile, that is not a new passenger automobile or leased passenger automobile, registered for a term of more than 12 months pursuant to R.S.39:3-4, shall be $11.

b. The chief administrator may waive the fee imposed for a duplicate license under subsection a. of this section if the applicant, at the time of application: is applying for a REAL ID license, as that term is defined in R.S.39:1-1; currently holds a valid license to operate a motor vehicle issued by the commission; and is not eligible to renew the applicant's current license. The chief administrator's authority to waive the duplicate license fee under this subsection shall expire on October 1, 2020. In order to receive a REAL ID license pursuant to this subsection, the applicant shall first surrender to the commission the applicant's current license to operate a motor vehicle.

(cf: P.L.2019, c.271, s.9)

5. Section 1 of P.L.1961, c.77 (C.39:3-31.1) is amended to read as follows:

1. The Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, upon presentation of a statement by the holder of an original registration certificate that [he] the person requires a duplicate registration certificate for use by members of [his] the person's family, shall issue a duplicate original registration certificate to the holder of the original registration certificate upon the payment to the chief administrator of a fee of $5. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the fee for a duplicate registration certificate for any new passenger automobile required to be registered for a 48-month term [or], for any new passenger automobile leased for a term of more than 12 months, or for a passenger automobile, that is not a new passenger automobile or leased passenger automobile,registered for a term of more than 12 months pursuant to R.S.39:3-4, shall be $11.

Any such duplicate original registration certificate may be used in the same manner and for the same purpose as the original registration certificate but may be used only by the holder of the original registration certificate or a member of [his] the holder's family. Any reference to the original registration certificate in the chapter to which this act is supplementary or in Title 39 of the Revised Statutes as amended and supplemented shall be deemed to include any and all duplicate original registration certificates issued pursuant to this act and, in the event that the holder of the original registration certificate shall be required to surrender the same by virtue of the provisions of any law, [he] the holder shall also be required to surrender the duplicate original registration certificate if [he] the holder shall have [had] been issued such duplicate original registration certificate [issued to him]. The chief administrator shall make and promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.

This section shall also apply to registration certificates for motorized bicycles.

(cf: P.L.2004, c.64, s.4)

6. Section 1 of P.L.1999, c.192 (C.39:3-33a) is amended to read as follows:

1. Whenever the [Division of Motor Vehicles] New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission is authorized to charge an additional application fee for the issuance of a personalized, courtesy or special license plate, the [division] commission shall charge that additional application fee only upon the initial issuance of the plate. If a personalized, courtesy or special plate is issued to a lessee in a motor vehicle leasing agreement, upon termination of the lease the lessee may apply to the [director] chief administrator to have the plate reissued to another motor vehicle leased or owned by the lessee upon payment of a fee of $4.50. If a personalized, courtesy or special license plate is issued to an owner of a motor vehicle, the owner may apply to the [director] chief administrator to have the plate reissued to another motor vehicle leased or owned by the owner upon payment of a fee of $4.50. Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the [division] commission from charging, at the time of [annual] registration renewal, the payment of the additional fee which has been required under any other section of law for a special license plate.

(cf: P.L.1999, c.192, s.1)

7. Section 2 of P.L.1984, c.50 (C.39:4-207.3) is amended to read as follows:

2. a. The Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall issue a special insignia upon the application of a federal, State, county or municipal entity or a public or private nonprofit organization incorporated under the laws of this State for motor vehicles owned or operated by the applicant and used to transport persons with intellectual disabilities. The insignia shall be of a design and shall be posted or attached to the motor vehicle in a place and manner to be determined by the chief administrator. The fee for the issuance of an insignia shall be determined by the chief administrator and the insignia shall be renewable annually by the chief administrator at the time fixed for the annual registration of the vehicle, or at some other time as determined by the chief administrator.

b. The chief administrator may also issue to an applicant, at the expense of the State, special vehicle identification cards to be carried by the operators of motor vehicles used to transport persons with intellectual disabilities. The cards shall be renewable annually by the chief administrator at the time fixed for the annual registration of the vehicles, or at some other time as determined by the chief administrator.

c. The chief administrator may also issue to an applicant a placard to be displayed on the motor vehicle.

(cf: P.L.2010, c.50, s.64)

8. (New section) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission may charge the full amount due for the use and display of a special license plate upon the registration of a passenger automobile that will be valid for more than one year pursuant to R.S.39:3-4.

9. This act shall take effect on July 1 next following the date of enactment.

STATEMENT

This bill permits certain passenger automobiles to be registered for more than one year.

Specifically, this bill permits passenger automobiles, that are not new or leased, to be registered for a period of two years. Under current law, these passenger automobiles are required to be registered annually. A person registering a passenger automobile for more than one year is required to prepay the full amount of the registration for the registration period elected by the person.

The bill clarifies that the portion of prepayment for passenger automobiles registered for one or two years that is dedicated to the New Jersey Emergency Medical Service Helicopter Response Program Fund, the Traumatic Brain Injury Fund, and the fund established for State Police trooper classes is to be deposited in the respective accounts. The bill also clarifies that the accelerated revenues generated through the implementation of the bill would be calculated and distributed in a manner that is consistent with current State law.

The bill provides that a fee of $11 applies for a duplicate registration certificate issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) for a passenger automobile registered for a term of more than 12 months.

The bill provides that the annual renewal of special insignia and special vehicle identification cards issued to owners or operators of certain motor vehicles that transport persons with intellectual disabilities may be renewed annually when the vehicle's registration is renewed or at some other time as determined by the chief administrator of the commission.

The bill provides that the commission may continue to charge an annual fee for the use and display of special license plates, which is to be charged upon the registration of the passenger automobile.