Bill Text: NJ S714 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires interior light of motor vehicle be turned on when stopped by law enforcement under certain circumstances.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-09 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee [S714 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-S714-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
218th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Senator JAMES W. HOLZAPFEL
District 10 (Ocean)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Stack and Diegnan
SYNOPSIS
Requires interior light of motor vehicle be turned on when stopped by law enforcement under certain circumstances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning motor vehicle lighting and amending P.L.1997, c.374.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1997, c.374 (C.39:4-57.1) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. The driver of a motor vehicle equipped with an interior light, when stopped by a law enforcement officer [during the period when lighted lamps are required], shall [, upon request of the officer,] activate an interior light of the vehicle in order to illuminate the driver's compartment of the vehicle during the period when lighted lamps are required, or upon request of the officer during the period when lighted lamps are not required. A fine of [$50] $35 shall be imposed upon any person who [purposely refuses] fails to comply with this section.
b. The chief administrator shall utilize the commission's website and social media accounts to promote public awareness that drivers are required to activate the interior light of a motor vehicle during the period when lighted lamps are required, or upon request of the law enforcement officer during the period when lighted lamps are not required.
c. As used in this section, "when lighted lamps are required" means the same as that term is defined in R.S.39:3-46.
(cf: P.L.1997, c.374, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the driver of a motor vehicle to turn on the interior light of a motor vehicle when stopped by a law enforcement officer under certain circumstances.
Under current law, a law enforcement officer may request a driver of a motor vehicle equipped with an interior light to turn on the interior light of the vehicle: 1) from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise; 2) whenever precipitation or moisture requires the use of windshield wipers; and 3) when there is insufficient light to view persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of 500 feet ahead. The current fine for failing to comply with a law enforcement officer's request is $50.
This bill amends current law to require the driver of a motor vehicle equipped with an interior light to turn on the vehicle's interior light when stopped by a law enforcement officer at certain times, including nighttime or during inclement weather, without being requested to do so by the officer. The bill also requires a driver to turn on the interior light upon a law enforcement officer's request at other times when the driver is not otherwise required to turn on the vehicle's interior light.
The bill reduces the fine for failing to turn on the interior light when required from $50 to $35. In addition, the bill requires the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to utilize the Commissions website and social media accounts to promote public awareness that drivers are required to turn on the interior light when stopped by a law enforcement officer.
The bill is scheduled to take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following the date of enactment.
