Bill Text: NJ SJR53 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Designates June of each year as "Designated Driver Awareness Month."

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-06-13 - Reported from Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading [SJR53 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2012-SJR53-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 53

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

215th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED MAY 24, 2012

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  JEFF VAN DREW

District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Designates June of each year as "Designated Driver Awareness Month."

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Transportation Committee on June 13, 2013, with amendments.

 

A Joint Resolution designating June of each year as "Designated Driver Awareness Month."

 

Whereas, ¹[In 2009, approximately 11,000] Each year thousands of¹ people ¹[died] die¹ in ¹[drunk-driving] drunk driving¹ accidents nationwide ¹[-] , with approximately¹ one ¹death occurring¹ every ¹[50] 53¹ minutes; and

Whereas, In ¹[2009] 2011¹ , ¹[149] 193¹ people were killed in alcohol-related accidents in the State of New Jersey; and

Whereas, ¹[Every minute someone] Almost every 90 seconds a person¹ is injured in an alcohol-related accident and approximately one in three people will be involved in an alcohol-related crash in their lifetime; and

Whereas, ¹[The] Some estimates suggest that the¹ average alcohol-related fatality in the United States costs $1.1 million in monetary costs and $2.4 million in quality of life losses; and

Whereas, Alcohol-related crashes account for an estimated ¹[18%] 18 percent¹ of the $103 billion in auto insurance payments Americans make each year; and

Whereas, Choosing a designated driver is simple, inexpensive, and shows how only modest behavioral changes made by individuals can have a significant impact on the number of drunk driving fatalities; and

Whereas, In 2000, United States Navy Ensign John Elliott of Egg Harbor Township was killed in a tragic car accident when his vehicle was struck by a driver who only hours earlier had been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated; and

Whereas, New Jersey was the first state in the country to launch the HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers, which was founded by Ensign Elliott's parents and encourages all State residents to use a designated driver wherever they travel; and

Whereas, New Jersey recognizes the need to raise awareness about the consequences of, and solutions to, drunk driving, to prevent drinking and driving, and to strictly enforce drunk driving laws; now, therefore,

 

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

 

     1.    In memory of those individuals who were killed by drunk drivers, and to promote public awareness of the benefits of designated driving, the month of June of each year is designated as "Designated Driver Awareness Month."

     2.    The Governor is requested to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and the citizens of New Jersey to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs.

 

     3.    This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.