ASSEMBLY, No. 747

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

 

 

By Assemblyman SULIGA

 

 

An Act concerning accidents involving certain snow removal equipment and amending P.L.1990, c.8.

 

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

    1. Section 26 of P.L.1990, c.8 (C.17:33B-14) is amended to read as follows:

    26. The commissioner shall, within 90 days of the effective date of this act, promulgate a schedule of automobile insurance eligibility points by rule or regulation adopted pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.). The schedule shall assess a point valuation to driving experience related violations and shall include assessments for violations of lawful speed limits within such increments as determined by the commissioner, other moving violations, and at-fault accidents. For the purposes of this section, an "at-fault accident" means an at-fault accident which results in payment by the insurer of at least a $500 claim; except that an at-fault accident shall not mean an accident involving a municipal public works employee while operating municipally-owned snow removal equipment during a snow emergency.

(cf: P.L.1990, c.8, s.26)

 

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

    This bill would make an exception to the definition of "at-fault accident" for accidents involving a municipal public works employee while operating municipally-owned snow removal equipment during a snow emergency. Under current law, such accidents are charged against the personal driving record of the employee and as such, could lead to the assessment of automobile insurance eligibility points against the employee.

    Automobile insurance eligibility points may be used by companies as a rating factor in calculating an insured's automobile insurance premium. This bill would preclude an insurer from assessing automobile insurance eligibility points against a municipal public works employee who is involved in an accident while operating snow removal equipment, in the course of his employment, during a snow emergency.

 

 

 

Provides exception to definition of "at-fault accident" for accidents involving municipal snow removal equipment during snow emergency.