ASSEMBLY, No. 2435

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED OCTOBER 21, 1996

 

 

By Assemblyman ZISA

 

 

An Act concerning the use of bicycles in law enforcement and amending P.L.1951, c.23.

 

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

 

    1. Section 16 of P.L.1951, c.23 (C.39:4-14.1) is amended to read as follows:

    16. a. Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by chapter four of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes and all supplements thereto except as to those provisions thereof which by their nature can have no application.

    Regulations applicable to bicycles shall apply whenever a bicycle is operated upon any highway or upon any path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles subject to those exceptions stated herein.

    b. A law enforcement officer operating a bicycle in the line of duty shall not be subject to the provisions of this section.

 (cf: P.L.1951, c.23, s.16)

 

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

    This bill would exempt a police officer who is operating a bicycle in the line of duty from compliance with the traffic laws governing bicycle riders. Persons who operate a bicycle on the roadways of this State must generally obey the motor vehicle traffic laws. However, to fulfill their law enforcement mission, police officers on bicycles must at times ride in a manner that violates these laws. This bill is patterned on existing law which exempts law enforcement officers operating motor vehicles in the performance of their duties from compliance with certain traffic laws.

                           

Grants police exemption from certain bicycle laws.