Bill Text: NJ SR70 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Federal Government to exempt New Jersey from prohibition on private operation of highway truck stops.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-06-21 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Transportation Committee [SR70 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-SR70-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JEFF VAN DREW
District 1 (Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Federal Government to exempt New Jersey from prohibition on private operation of highway truck stops.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution urging the Federal Government to grant an exemption to New Jersey from the prohibition on private entities operating safety rest areas for trucks.
Whereas, Because of budgetary constraints, states are closing highway rest areas for trucks, particularly those on interstate highways; and
Whereas, The closure of these truck stops or rest areas (referred to as "safety rest areas" in federal regulations) poses a serious safety problem by increasing the incidence of serious accidents, since truck operators are experiencing difficulty in finding rest accommodations on interstate highways in order to permit them to fulfill their federally mandated rest time and to operate their vehicles in a rested and alert condition; and
Whereas, 23 CFR 752.5 only permits the placement of vending machines at safety rest areas operated either directly or indirectly by the State of New Jersey and does not permit the operation of these rest areas by a private entity as full-service facilities with a restaurant, or gasoline or diesel station, as possible amenities; and
Whereas, The existence of various amenities at New Jersey safety rest areas operated by private entities would permit such areas to remain open since the State would receive lease payments and other revenues from the operator, including tax revenue, thereby eliminating or defraying any cost to the State of the facility and providing an incentive to keep the safety rest areas open; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully urges the Federal Government to grant an exemption to New Jersey from the prohibition on private entities operating safety rest areas for trucks.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and attested by the Secretary thereof, shall be transmitted to the United States Secretary of Transportation and to the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration.
STATEMENT
This Senate resolution urges the Federal Government to grant an exemption to New Jersey from the prohibition on private entities operating interstate highway safety rest areas for trucks. Because of budgetary constraints, many states are closing safety rest areas for trucks on interstate highways, causing serious safety problems including increased incidence of serious accidents for truckers who are required to observe federally mandated rest times. The operation by private entities of safety areas with appropriate amenities would provide revenue to New Jersey and serve as an incentive to keep New Jersey's safety areas open.
