ASSEMBLY TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 339

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: DECEMBER 16, 1996

      The Assembly Transportation and Communications Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 339.

      This bill increases the penalty for exhibiting a false license or knowingly presenting false information to a police officer when stopped for a motor vehicle offense. The current penalty for this offense, a fine of not less than $200 or imprisonment for up to 60 days, or both, exists in Title 39, the State Motor Vehicle Code. Under this bill, the offense would be upgraded to a fourth degree crime under Title 2C, the State Criminal Code. A fourth degree crime is punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed 18 months, a fine not to exceed $7,500, or both.

      The bill also increases the Title 39 penalties related to the illegal use of driver's licenses as follows:

      Loaning a driver's license for use by another person, from a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $100 to a fine of not less than $200 nor more than $1,000;

      Allowing one's motor vehicle to be operated by a nonlicensed driver, from a fine of not more than $100 to a fine of not more than $500; and

      Exhibiting the driver's license of another person for purposes of identification other than in regard to the operation of a motor vehicle, from a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $100 to a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $200.

      Technical review was performed on this prefiled bill, as required under Joint Rule 18A of the Senate and General Assembly.