SENATE MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1703

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 7, 2019

      The Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1703.

      This bill would exempt disabled veterans from fees to obtain a beach buggy permit.

      Multiple municipal beaches and State parks permit the operation of certain motorized vehicles on beach property, provided the owner of the vehicle first obtains a permit.  If a disabled veteran applies for such a permit and, if all qualifications are met, this bill would permit the veteran to receive the permit free of cost.  The disabled veteran would also be able to replace or renew the permit free of cost. 

      State parks and municipal beaches proscribe their own criteria as to what types of vehicles qualify as a beach buggy; implement restrictions on dates, times, and locations to operate a beach buggy; and limit the extent to which a beach buggy may be used (for instance, only for fishing purposes).  A disabled veteran who obtains a free permit under this bill would still be required to abide by all applicable State and local regulations.  Likewise, nothing in this bill would permit a disabled veteran who obtains a free permit to use the beach buggy beyond what is proscribed under State and local law—for instance, operating a beach buggy in a municipality that does not permit their operation or failing to obtain a proper driver’s license or inspection certificate.

      A disabled veteran is defined in this bill to mean a State resident who has been honorably discharged from any branch of the United States Armed Forces and has been declared by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as having any degree of service-connected disability.