CHAPTER 242
An Act concerning certain public utility employees and supplementing chapter 3 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes and amending R.S.39:3-50.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
C.39:3-54.24 Employee of public utility, use of amber light on motor vehicle permitted; fee.
1. An authorized employee of a public utility company who, as part of the official duties of a public utility employee, is required to use a motor vehicle owned or leased by him or a member of his family in the performance of his duties may apply for and be issued a permit by the chief administrator authorizing the display on that motor vehicle of an amber warning light that is provided by the public utility company. The permit for the amber warning light shall be in the possession of the public utility employee while the light is displayed on the motor vehicle. The chief administrator may cancel, suspend, or revoke a permit issued pursuant to this act whenever the conditions for its issuance no longer exist or for any other reasonable grounds. The chief administrator shall collect a $25 fee for the initial issuance and for each subsequent renewal of the permit for each vehicle for which the applicant seeks authorization to use an amber warning light. The fees collected pursuant to this section shall be considered revenue of the commission and shall not be subject to the calculation of proportional revenue remitted to the commission pursuant to section 105 of P.L.2003, c.13 (C.39:2A-36).
The amber warning light may be operated for the protection of the public and the public utility employee only while the motor vehicle is being used on a public highway by the authorized public utility employee in the performance of his official duties as a public utility employee.
The amber warning lights authorized under the provisions of this act shall be temporarily attached, removable lights of the flashing or revolving type, not more than 7 1/2 inches in diameter, and shall be controlled by a switch installed inside the vehicle.
While in operation, the amber warning light shall be conspicuously displayed on the roof of the motor vehicle.
Nothing herein shall be construed to grant any person displaying and operating an amber warning light pursuant to the provisions of this act any privileges or exemptions denied to the drivers of other motor vehicles and all such persons shall drive with due regard for the safety of all persons and shall obey the traffic laws of this State.
C.39:3-54.25 Use of public utility company logo by employee on motor vehicle.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 2 of P.L.1968, c.439 (C.39:3-8.1), an authorized employee of a public utility company who, as part of the official duties of a public utility employee, is required to use a motor vehicle owned or leased by him or a member of his family in the performance of his duties may affix on that motor vehicle a magnetic sign, provided by the public utility company, that displays the corporate logo of the public utility company. The sign shall be placed on the exterior of the front driver’s side door of the motor vehicle.
The sign may only be displayed while the motor vehicle is being used on a public highway by the authorized public utility employee in the performance of his official duties as a public employee, and shall be removed from the motor vehicle when the vehicle is not being used in the performance of these duties.
C.39:3-54.26 Improper use of amber light, logo; penalty.
3. Any person authorized to display an amber warning light or a magnetic sign pursuant to this act, who willfully uses the light or displays the sign in violation of the provisions of this act, shall be liable to a penalty of not more than $100 and his permit to display the light may be cancelled, suspended, or revoked by the chief administrator.
4. The chief administrator, in accordance with the provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this act.
5. R.S.39:3-50 is amended to read as follows:
Color of lights, permits; cancellation or revocation of permits; fee.
39:3-50. All lamps and reflectors, which display a light visible from directly in front of a vehicle as authorized by this subtitle, shall exhibit lights substantially white, yellow or amber in color.
(a) The color of light emitted or reflected by exterior lamps or reflectors on a vehicle shall be as follows, except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this section:
White when the lamp is a headlamp, or spot lamp, or illuminates a license plate or a destination sign; or is located on the outside limit of a side car or other attachment on a motor cycle;
Substantially white or amber when the lamp is a side-cowl or fender lamp, running-board or other courtesy lamp, front parking lamp, back-up lamp, auxiliary driving lamp; or a turn signal on or facing the front;
Substantially red or amber when the lamp is a turn signal or a stop lamp on or facing the rear;
Red when any other lamp or any reflector is on the rear or on either side at or near the rear, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (f) of section 39:3-61 for a combination marker lamp;
Amber when any other lamp or reflector is on the front or on either side other than at or near the rear.
(b) Lamps and reflectors on projecting loads shall emit or reflect light with color as provided in section 10 of this act.
(c) No person shall drive or move any vehicle or equipment upon any street or highway equipped with any device or lamp thereon capable of or displaying a light of any other color than permitted by this section, except: an authorized emergency vehicle, an authorized school bus, or a vehicle authorized by a permit issued by the chief administrator.
(d) A permit authorizing a vehicle to be equipped with a lamp capable of or displaying a flashing light, except as provided in 39:3-54 or a light of a color other than permitted by this section, visible from directly in front of said vehicle, may be issued by the director when necessary, in his discretion, for the reasonable and safe movement of traffic. The permit shall specify the type and color of such lamp and the conditions under which a person may drive or move the vehicle with said lamp displaying a light. The permit shall be valid only when the specifications and conditions contained therein are complied with. The chief administrator shall collect a $25 fee for the initial issuance and for each subsequent renewal of the permit for each vehicle for which the applicant seeks to use such a light, provided, however, that no fee shall be charged for a permit authorizing the use of a light that is red or blue. The fee set forth in this section shall not apply to a motor vehicle registered at no fee pursuant to R.S.39:3-27. The fees collected pursuant to this section shall be considered revenue of the commission and shall not be subject to the calculation of proportional revenue remitted to the commission pursuant to section 105 of P.L.2003, c.13 (C.39:2A-36).
The chief administrator may cancel or revoke a permit issued under authority of this section whenever the conditions for its issuance no longer exist or on any other reasonable grounds.
6. This act shall take effect on the first day of the thirteenth month after enactment.
Approved January 3, 2008.