Bill Text: NJ S2954 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Increases fine for failure to keep right unless overtaking; establishes fund to pay for certain signage.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-06-16 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Transportation Committee [S2954 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-S2954-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator DONALD NORCROSS
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
SYNOPSIS
Increases fine for failure to keep right unless overtaking; establishes fund to pay for certain signage
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning penalties for certain traffic violations, creating a fund for the acquisition of certain traffic signage, amending R.S.39:4-88 and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. R.S.39:4-88 is amended to read as follows:
39:4-88. When a roadway has been divided into clearly marked lanes for traffic, drivers of vehicles shall obey the following regulations:
a. A vehicle shall normally be driven in the lane nearest the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway when that lane is available for travel, except when overtaking another vehicle or in preparation for a left turn.
b. A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from that lane until the driver has first ascertained that the movement can be made with safety.
c. Upon a highway which is divided into 3 lanes, a vehicle shall not be driven in the center lane except when overtaking or passing another vehicle or in preparation for a left turn or unless the center lane is at the time allocated for traffic moving in the direction the vehicle is proceeding and is signposted to give notice of that allocation.
d. The State Highway Commissioner may by regulation or local authorities may by resolution or ordinance with respect to highways under their jurisdiction designate right-hand lanes for slow moving traffic and inside lanes for traffic moving at the speed designated for the district as provided under this chapter, and when the lanes are signposted or marked to give notice of the designation a vehicle may be driven in any lane allocated to traffic moving in the direction in which it is proceeding, but when traveling within the inside lanes the vehicle shall be driven at approximately the speed authorized in such lanes and speed shall not be decreased unnecessarily so as to block, hinder or retard traffic.
e. When such roadway had been divided in such a manner that there are 3 or more lanes for traffic in any one direction, no truck of 10,000 pounds registered gross weight or over shall be driven in the farthest left-hand lane, except when and to the extent necessary to prepare for a left turn, or when necessary to enter or leave such roadway by entrance or exit to or from the left lane or when reasonably necessary in response to emergency conditions.
f. The penalty for violation of this section shall be a fine of not less than $100 or more than $300. The State Treasurer shall annually deposit $50 of each fine collected from the fines imposed pursuant to this section into the fund established pursuant to section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
(cf: P.L.1968, c.432, s.1)
2. (New section) There is created within the New Jersey Department of Treasury, a separate, non-lapsing fund. Of the total collected for each violation of R.S.39:4-88, $50 shall be deposited in the fund. Unless otherwise specifically provided by law, monies in the fund shall be utilized exclusively to acquire, install, and maintain highway signs that notify motorists entering New Jersey to comply with the provisions of R.S.39:4-88.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would increase the fines imposed for failure by a motorist to keep right unless overtaking another vehicle. The bill would increase the fine from between $50 and $200 to between $100 and $300. The bill further provides that $50 of each fine shall be placed into a fund that would pay for the acquisition, installation, and maintenance of signs that remind motorists when entering New Jersey to keep to the right of the roadway except when overtaking.
