ASSEMBLY, No. 1659

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MARCH 4, 1996

By Assemblywoman FRISCIA

An Act concerning handicapped parking and supplementing chapter 4 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.

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

    1. The director shall issue a handicapped person identification card and corresponding windshield placard upon the application of the American Red Cross for use in a vehicle owned or operated by that organization when that vehicle is used to transport handicapped persons. The identification card and corresponding windshield placard shall identify the American Red Cross as the owner or operator and the registration number of the vehicle for which the card is issued, and shall state that the American Red Cross is validly qualified to receive the identification card and corresponding windshield placard; the identification card and corresponding windshield placard are for the exclusive use of the vehicle owned or operated by the American Red Cross when transporting a handicapped person; the identification card and corresponding windshield placard are not transferable and will be forfeited if used for purposes not authorized under this act; and an abuse of any privilege, benefit, precedence or consideration granted to the organization to which the identification card and corresponding windshield placard are issued will be sufficient cause for revocation of the identification card and corresponding windshield placard and the same may be forfeited or revoked accordingly, and in the absence of a forfeiture or revocation, the identification card and corresponding windshield placard are valid indefinitely.

    The windshield placard shall be displayed on the vehicle when the vehicle is used to transport handicapped persons. A vehicle displaying this windshield placard is authorized to park in a space appropriately marked for vehicles for the physically handicapped only when delivering or receiving handicapped persons from one location to another. The vehicle is not permitted to park in designated handicapped parking spaces when it is not transporting handicapped persons.

    The director shall not charge a fee for the issuance of the identification card and corresponding windshield placard issued pursuant to this section.

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill authorizes the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles in the Department of Law anad Public Safety to issue a handicapped parking permit and placard for a vehicle owned and operated by the American Red Cross which is used to transport handicapped persons.

    The bill does not provide for a fee for the identification card and placard; under current law (R.S.39:3-27), the American Red Cross does not pay registration fees for its vehicles.

Provides that handicapped parking permits may be issued to vehicles owned by American Red Cross.