ASSEMBLY, No. 1597
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 29, 1996
By Assemblymen IMPREVEDUTO and CARABALLO
An Act concerning certain driver's licenses and amending P.L.1979, c.261, P.L.1980, c.47 and P.L.1977, c.23.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1979, c.261 (C.39:3-10f) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. In addition to the requirements for the form and content of a motor vehicle driver's license under R.S.39:3-10, each initial New Jersey license issued to a person under the age of 21 after the effective date of this act shall have a color photograph of the licensee. Each initial motor vehicle license issued to a person 21 years of age or older on or after May 1, 1982, shall have a color photograph of the licensee. At the option of the licensee, a renewal of any motor vehicle driver's license shall be either a photo-license or a license that does not bear a photograph of the licensee. All licenses bearing a color photograph of the licensee as provided in this act shall be valid for a period of 48 calendar months.
To replace a photo-license for a licensee who is temporarily out of this State, the director may issue a "valid without photo" photo-license for the unexpired term of the license.
b. After the effective date of this act the driver's license issued to a person under the age of 21 years shall be conspicuously distinct, through the use of color, from the driver's licenses issued to persons 21 years of age or older. The director, in consultation with the Superintendent of State Police, shall determine the color and the manner in which that color shall be used to achieve this result. Following the name of the licensee, this license shall read in conspicuous letters: ", who will be 21 on (insert date of licensee's 21st birthday)."
c. The director shall provide that the driver's license issued to a person under the age of 21 years pursuant to the provisions of this act shall expire when the licensee attains the age of 21 years. In those cases where such a driver's license is issued for a period of less than 48 months, the fee for that driver's license shall be prorated as a proportion of the fee set forth in R.S.39:3-10.
d. The provisions of this section shall not apply to driver's licenses issued pursuant to P.L.1990, c.103 (C.39:3-10.9 et al.).
(cf: P.L.1990, c.103, s.26)
2. Section 3 of P.L.1980, c.47 (C.39:3-29.4) is amended to read as follows:
3. Every identification card authorized by section 2 of this act shall bear a color photograph of the person to whom it is issued and shall be issued upon the standard license form prescribed by the Division of Motor Vehicles for color photograph drivers' licenses, except that the card shall be blue, [and] shall prominently contain the words "For Identification Only[.]," and, in the case of an identification card issued to a person under the age of 21, shall be conspicuously distinct through the use of color, from the identification cards issued to persons 21 years of age or older. Following the name of a holder who is under 21 years of age, this card shall read in conspicuous letters : ", who will be 21 on (insert date of holder's 21st birthday)."
The director, in consultation with the Superintendent of State Police, shall determine the color and the manner in which that color shall be used to achieve this result.
(cf: P.L.1989, c.52, s.3)
3. Section 1 of P.L.1977, c.23 (C.39:3-10b) is amended to read as follows:
1. All successful applicants for a basic driver's license or motorcycle license who previously have never been licensed to drive a motor vehicle in this, or any other state, shall be licensed on a probationary basis for the 2-year period following the issuance of their initial licenses. [No] Except as otherwise provided in P.L. , c. (C. )(now pending before the Legislature as this bill), no such license shall physically differ by way of appearance from a nonprobationary license.
(cf: P.L.1977, c.23, s.1)
4. This act shall take effect on the first day of the sixth month following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in the Department of Transportation to issue a photo driver's license to persons under 21 years of age that is conspicuously distinct, through the use of color, from other driver's licenses. The Director of DMV, in consultation with the Superintendent of State Police, would be responsible for designating the distinctive color and the manner of its usage on the license. The bill would also require the license to conspicuosly state the date of the licensee's 21st birthday. The bill would require identification cards issued to nondrivers who are under 21 to be treated in a similar manner. The issuance of these distinctively colored licenses and identification cards is expected to deter attempts by underaged persons to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages.
Requires distinctive colored driver's license for persons under 21.