ASSEMBLY, No. 2721

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 3, 1997

 

 

By Assemblyman RUSSO

 

 

An Act concerning careless driving and amending R.S.39:4-97.

 

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

 

    1. R.S.39:4-97 is amended to read as follows:

    39:4-97. a. A person who drives a vehicle carelessly, or without due caution and circumspection, in a manner so as to endanger, or be likely to endanger, a person or property, shall be guilty of careless driving.

    b. The driver of a vehicle shall be guilty of careless driving if accumulated ice or snow is dislodged from the vehicle and strikes another vehicle or pedestrian, causing injury or property damage.

(cf: P.L.1995, c.70, s.3)

 

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

 

STATEMENT

 

    This bill is intended to prevent accidents which result when ice or snow dislodged from moving motor vehicles strikes other vehicles or pedestrians. These accidents, which have caused injury and death, may occur when the driver of a passenger vehicle or truck fails to remove accumulated snow or ice from the top of a vehicle. Under the bill, the driver of vehicle from which snow or ice falls and strikes another vehicle or pedestrian causing injury or property damage would be guilty of careless driving. This offense is punishable by a fine of not less than $50 or more that $200, imprisonment for a period not to exceed 15 days, or both. In addition, two motor vehicle points are assessed for this offense.

 

                             

Creates penalty for peril caused by ice dislodged from vehicle.