ASSEMBLY TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
ASSEMBLY, No. 1346
with committee amendments
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: MAY 13, 1996
The Assembly Transportation and Communications Committee favorably reports Assembly Bill No. 1346 with committee amendments.
This amended bill clarifies the existing laws concerning the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey with regard to the liability of the owners of motor vehicles for toll collection violations and the status and use of photo-monitoring evidence in order to permit the Port Authority to expediently implement electronic toll collection technology.
The electronic collection of tolls on highways and bridges is in the process of being implemented in the States of New Jersey and New York by the inauguration of the “E-Z-pass system.” This system permits a driver to pass through the existing toll barriers without stopping for the purpose of manually depositing currency, coins or tokens. This system will permit tolls to be paid automatically by means of automated electronic identification of a vehicle at a toll booth and the debiting of a vehicle account. This allows tolls to be paid automatically while vehicles are in motion, thereby improving traffic flow and reducing delays and queuing.
The State of New York has enacted legislation concerning the liability of owners of motor vehicles for toll collection violations on bridges and highways operated by public authorities in that State and has further amended New York law concerning toll enforcement on crossings operated by the Port Authority for New York and New Jersey which will take effect upon passage by New Jersey of legislation having an identical effect to section 3 of that act. Section 1 of this act is identical in effect to section 3 of New York law concerning Port Authority toll enforcement and would thus permit both New York and New Jersey legislation to take effect.
The committee adopted amendments to provide that any information obtained from a photo-monitoring system shall not be discoverable by any person, entity or governmental agency and shall not be admissible in evidence in any civil, criminal or administrative proceeding not directly related to a violation of the toll collection regulations.