ASSEMBLY, No. 4971

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED JANUARY 28, 2019

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  ROY FREIMAN

District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)

Assemblyman  DANIEL R. BENSON

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)

Assemblywoman  PATRICIA EGAN JONES

District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman McKeon, Assemblywomen Mosquera and Jasey

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Allows E-ZPass customers to opt to receive real-time electronic notification of use of E-ZPass system at toll plazas operated by NJTA and SJTA.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act concerning notifications provided through certain electronic toll collection lanes and amending and supplementing P.L.1997, c.59.

 

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

 

     1.    Section 6 of P.L.1997, c.59 (C.27:23-34.1) is amended to read as follows:

     6.    As used in sections 6 through 10 of P.L.1997, c.59 (C.27:23-34.1 through C.27:23-34.5) and section 3 of P.L.    , c.   (C.      ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):

     "Authority" means the New Jersey Turnpike Authority established by section 3 of P.L.1948, c.454 (C.27:23-3).

     "Electronic toll collection system" means the electronic system employed or utilized by the authority to register and collect the toll required to be paid for a vehicle entering a toll plaza owned or operated by, or on behalf of, the authority.

     "Lessee" means any person, corporation, firm, partnership, agency, association or organization that rents, leases or contracts for the use of a vehicle and has exclusive use of the vehicle for any period of time.

     "Lessor" means any person, corporation, firm, partnership, agency, association or organization engaged in the business of renting or leasing vehicles to any lessee under a rental agreement, lease or other contract that provides the lessee with the exclusive use of the vehicle for any period of time.

     "Operator" means the term "operator" as defined in R.S.39:1-1.

     "Owner" means the term "owner" as defined in R.S.39:1-1.

     "Toll collection monitoring system" means a vehicle sensor, placed in a location to work in conjunction with a toll collection facility, that produces one or more photographs, one or more microphotographs, a videotape or other recorded images, or a written record, of a vehicle at the time the vehicle is used or operated in a violation of the toll collection monitoring system regulations.  The term shall also include any other process that identifies a vehicle by photographic, electronic or other method.

     "Toll collection monitoring system regulations" means the regulations authorized and adopted pursuant to section 7 of P.L.1997, c.59 (C.27:23-34.2) that prohibit a vehicle from making use of any project except upon the payment of such tolls as may from time to time be prescribed by the authority and that further makes it a violation subject to a civil penalty for any person to refuse to pay, to evade, or to attempt to evade the payment of such tolls, if the violation is recorded by a toll collection monitoring system as defined in this section.

     "Vehicle" means the term "vehicle" as defined in R.S.39:1-1.

(cf: P.L.2003, c.79, s.36)

 

     2.    Section 11 of P.L.1997, c.59 (C.27:25A-21.1) is amended to read as follows:

     11.  As used in sections 11 through 15 of P.L.1997, c.59 (C.27:25A-21.1 through C.27:25A-21.5) and section 4 of P.L.    , c.   (C.      ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):

     "Authority" means the South Jersey Transportation Authority established by section 4 of P.L.1991, c.252 (C.27:25A-4).

     "Electronic toll collection system" means the electronic system employed or utilized by the authority to register and collect the toll required to be paid for a vehicle entering a toll plaza owned or operated by, or on behalf of, the authority.

     "Lessee" means any person, corporation, firm, partnership, agency, association or organization that rents, leases or contracts for the use of a vehicle and has exclusive use of the vehicle for any period of time.

     "Lessor" means any person, corporation, firm, partnership, agency, association or organization engaged in the business of renting or leasing vehicles to any lessee under a rental agreement, lease or other contract that provides the lessee with the exclusive use of the vehicle for any period of time.

     "Operator" means the term "operator" as defined in R.S.39:1-1.

     "Owner" means the term "owner" as defined in R.S.39:1-1.

     "Toll collection monitoring system" means a vehicle sensor, placed in a location to work in conjunction with a toll collection facility, that produces one or more photographs, one or more microphotographs, a videotape or other recorded images, or a written record, of a vehicle at the time the vehicle is used or operated in a violation of the toll collection monitoring system regulations.  The term shall also include any other process that identifies a vehicle by photographic, electronic or other method.

     "Toll collection monitoring system regulations" means the regulations authorized and adopted pursuant to section 12 of P.L.1997, c.59 (C.27:25A-21.2) that prohibit a vehicle from making use of any project except upon the payment of such tolls as may from time to time be prescribed by the authority and that further makes it a violation subject to a civil penalty for any person to refuse to pay, to evade, or to attempt to evade the payment of such tolls, if the violation is recorded by a toll collection monitoring system as defined in this section.

     "Vehicle" means the term "vehicle" as defined in R.S.39:1-1.

(cf: P.L.2003, c.79, s.46)

     3.    (New section)  Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority shall install and operate in each lane of any toll facility operated by the authority that utilizes the electronic toll collection system, subject to sections 6 through 10 of P.L.1997, c.59 (C.27:23-34.1 through C.27:23-34.5), a device that transmits immediate electronic notification to a customer with an account for the electronic toll collection system when passing through the toll plaza.  The notification shall alert the customer that the electronic toll collection system has registered the customer’s account and may be provided by electronic mail, a text message sent directly to a customer’s mobile device, or through a mobile application.

 

     4.    (New section)  Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the South Jersey Transportation Authority shall install and operate in each lane of any toll facility operated by the authority that utilizes the electronic toll collection system, subject to sections 11 through 15 of P.L.1997, c.59 (C.27:25A-21.1 through C.27:25A-21.5), a device that transmits immediate electronic notification to a customer with an account for the electronic toll collection system when passing through the toll plaza.  The notification shall alert the customer that the electronic toll collection system has registered the customer’s account and may be provided by electronic mail, a text message sent directly to a customer’s mobile device, or through a mobile application.

 

     5.    This act shall take effect immediately, but the provisions of sections 3 and 4 of P.L.    , c.    (C.      ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall not be construed as affecting the terms of any contract or agreement in effect as of the effective date of this act.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Authority (authorities) to install and operate, in each lane of every toll plaza toll facility that uses the electronic toll collection system (system), commonly known as E-ZPass, a device that that transmits immediate electronic notification to a customer with a system account when passing through the toll plaza, to alert the customer that the system has registered the customer’s account.  The notification may be provided by electronic mail, a text message sent directly to a customer’s mobile device, or through a mobile application.  The bill requires the installation and operation of devices at toll plazas on the State’s three toll roads, the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, and the Atlantic City Expressway.