ASSEMBLY LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2327

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JANUARY 9, 1997

      The Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2327.

      Assembly Bill No. 2327 amends R.S.39:5-30 to establish new procedures for notifying individuals that their driver's licenses are being suspended for failing to pay a parking fine or respond to a court notice to appear for a hearing on a parking offense as provided under the provisions of section 9 of "The Parking Offenses Adjudication Act" (P.L.1985, c.14; C.39:4-39.10).

      The amendatory language specifies that all such notices of suspension must be served by certified mail with a return receipt. If the certified notice is unclaimed or refused, the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) may serve the notice by personal service. Current law requires the DMV to give notice in writing of license suspensions, but it does not specify the manner in which the notice should be transmitted. At present, the DMV provides its notices of suspension by regular mail.

      The bill also establishes a three year statute of limitations for parking offenses. If notice is not served by the first day of the fourth year following the date of an offense, the complaint shall be dismissed. At present, there is no statute of limitations for parking violations. The statute of limitations for most offenses in the State is five years. The statute of limitations for official corruption and bribery is seven years; there is no statute of limitations for murder and sexual assault.

      Finally, the amendment requires that the notice of suspension clearly state the reason for the suspension, including all pertinent facts concerning the last parking violation, such as the license plate number, location of the violation and the make and model of the vehicle.