Sponsored by:
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Assemblyman ANTHONY S. VERRELLI
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblyman RALPH R. CAPUTO
District 28 (Essex)
Senator PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.
District 18 (Middlesex)
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen Catalano, McGuckin, Assemblywomen Jasey, Downey, Pinkin, Assemblymen Johnson, McKeon, Calabrese, Freiman, Senators Holzapfel, Pou and Greenstein
SYNOPSIS
Temporarily extends deadline to register vehicle and obtain driver’s license for new State residents during COVID-19 public health emergency.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee on August 24, 2020, with amendments.
An Act providing temporary extension of vehicle registration and driver’s license deadlines for new State residents.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 1 of P.L.1955, c.53 (C.39:3-17.1) to the contrary, any person who becomes a resident of this State and who immediately prior thereto was authorized to operate and drive a motor vehicle or motor vehicles in this State as a non-resident pursuant to R.S.39:3-15 and R.S.39:3-17, shall not lose the right to so operate and drive a motor vehicle or motor vehicles by becoming a resident of this State, but that right shall continue to be in full force and effect for 120 days, unless a longer period of reciprocity is otherwise provided by law, after establishing residency in this State in the same manner and to the same extent as though the person was a non-resident.
b. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 1 of P.L.1955, c.53 (C.39:3-17.1) to the contrary, any person who becomes a resident of this State and who immediately prior thereto was authorized to operate and drive a motor vehicle or motor vehicles in this State as a non-resident pursuant to R.S.39:3-15 and R.S.39:3-17, shall register any vehicle operated on the public highways of this State within 120 days of so becoming a resident of New Jersey, pursuant to R.S.39:3-4 or section 2 of P.L.1968, c.439 (C.39:3-8.1).
c. The extension of nonresident driving rights provided in subsection a. and subsection b. of this section shall apply to persons who become residents of the State during the period of time in which the public health emergency caused by the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), established by Executive Order No. 103 of 2020, and any subsequent executive orders extending the public health emergency, remains in effect 1, except that the extension may be discontinued and the statutory 60-day period reinstated by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle upon written certification by the chief administrator that the extension is no longer necessary and upon submission of that certification to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C:52:14-19.1), to the Legislature1.
2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire at the end of the public health emergency caused by the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), either upon the expiration of Executive Order No. 103 of 2020 and any subsequent executive orders extending the public health emergency; or, in the absence of a rescission by the Governor, upon the termination in any other manner of the declared public health emergency 1; or upon written certification by the chief administrator that the extension is no longer necessary and upon submission of that certification to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C:52:14-19.1), to the Legislature1.