Sponsored by:
Senator VIN GOPAL
District 11 (Monmouth)
Senator ANTHONY M. BUCCO
District 25 (Morris and Somerset)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Pou, Diegnan and O'Scanlon
SYNOPSIS
Authorizes individuals who have passed road test to use driving permit to operate motor vehicle during COVID-19 public health emergency.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning driving privileges for certain persons during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. During the public health emergency declared on March 9, 2020 by the Governor, pursuant to Executive Order No. 103 and extended, where applicable, by subsequent executive orders, and until the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission resolves any backlog in driver licensure caused by the public health emergency, an applicant for a driver’s license who has passed the road test may use the person’s examination permit or special learner’s permit to operate a motor vehicle in the same manner and to the same extent as the holder of a probationary driver’s license of the same age as the person. Any such person may acquire automobile insurance or be added to an automobile insurance policy in the same manner as the holder of a probationary driver’s license.
b. On the 60th day following resolution of the backlog of driver licensure caused by the public health emergency, as determined by the chief administrator, any driving privileges granted under this act shall expire and any person granted driving privileges under this act shall be required to meet all requirements of driver licensure, as determined by the chief administrator, to lawfully operate a motor vehicle on the roads of this State. The chief administrator shall provide adequate notice to any person whose driving privileges are set to expire pursuant to this subsection.
c. Notwithstanding the provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to the contrary, the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission may adopt immediately upon filing with the Office of Administrative Law such rules and regulations as the chief administrator determines to be necessary to effectuate the purposes of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), which rules and regulations shall be effective for a period not to exceed 360 days following the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and may thereafter be amended, adopted, or readopted by the chief administrator in accordance with the requirements of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.).
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill allows a person who has passed the road test for driver licensure to operate a motor vehicle in this State in the same manner and to the same extent as the holder of a probationary driver’s license of the same age as the person. This includes the ability to acquire automobile insurance in the same manner as the holder of a probationary driver’s license. The authorization to operate a motor vehicle is to be valid until the 60th day after the resolution of the driver licensure backlog by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.