FISCAL NOTE TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 283

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: AUGUST 21, 1996

      Assembly Bill No. 283 of 1996 would provide specific penalties for bicycling while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A first offender aged 21 or older, with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10 percent or greater, would be subject to a fine of not less than $250 nor more than $400 and a period of detainment of not less than 12 hours nor more than 48 hours spent during two consecutive days in an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC). A second or subsequent offender would be subject to a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 and, at the discretion of the court, a period of community service of up to 30 days, in addition to detainment for 12 to 48 hours at an IDRC. The same penalties would apply to offenders aged 17 to 20. However, because these persons are under the legal age to consume alcohol, they would be subject to prosecution if their blood alcohol concentration exceeded 0.01 percent.

      The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) states that since the bill would create a new class of offenses, the AOC has no past history with which to base either cost or revenue projections for the State, counties or municipalities. It is anticipated, however, that passage of the bill would increase the work level at the municipal court directly proportional to the number of complaints filed by law enforcement. The cost of this additional work, however, would be considered to be nominal.

      The Office of Legislative Services concurs.

This fiscal note has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67.