ASSEMBLY INSURANCE COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1568

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JANUARY 9, 1997

      The Assembly Insurance Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 1568.

      Regulations promulgated by the Department of Transportation pursuant to R.S. 39:4-81, concerning the observance of traffic control devices, establish as a traffic offense the failure of a driver to comply with high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane restrictions on certain limited access highways in the State. Such an offense carries a monetary fine and also results in the assessment of two motor vehicle penalty points pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1982, c.43 (C.39:5-30.5).

      As amended, this bill prohibits the assessment of such penalty points for failure to comply with HOV lane restrictions, and provides for the following fines for violating these restrictions: a fine of $50 for the first offense; $100 for the second offense; $200 for the third offense; $400 for the fourth offense and not less than $500 for a fifth or subsequent offense.