ASSEMBLY LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 701

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: DECEMBER 11, 1997

      The Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 701.

      Assembly Bill No. 701, as received by the committee, supplements chapter 3 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes to require that motorists who are stopped by law enforcement officers at night, or during other times when visibility is hampered and headlights are required to be turned on, to turn on an interior light to illuminate the driver's compartment of the motor vehicle. Any driver who "purposely" refuses to turn on an interior light in accordance with the provisions of this section is subject to a fine of not more than $50.

      The committee amended the bill to specify that a driver is only required to activate an interior light when requested to do so by a law enforcement officer. The other amendment is technical in nature.

      As amended by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 701 is identical to Senate Bill No. 1235 (1R).

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 1996 legislative session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review which has been performed.