ASSEMBLY COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 504

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED: FEBRUARY 3, 1997

 

      The Assembly Community Services Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 504 (1R).

      This bill addresses a dilemma faced by handicapped motorists who use the parking lots of shopping centers and other facilities. Under State law, these persons may obtain special license plates or placards which entitle them to use designated reserved parking places in these lots. However, these reserved parking spaces and curb cuts and other improvements designed to provide accessibility for handicapped persons often are made inaccessible by obstructions such as snow that has been plowed from the parking lot. This obstruction poses a hardship for handicapped motorists and negates the purpose of the law granting them special parking privileges.

      The bill makes the person who owns or controls a parking area responsible for assuring parking spaces reserved for handicapped motorists and curb cuts and other improvements designed to provide accessibility are not obstructed. If the obstruction is ice or snow, it must be removed from the parking space, curb cut or other improvement within 24 hours after inclement weather has ended. A violator of this provision would be subject to a penalty of not less than $200 or more than $500, imprisonment for a term not to exceed 15 days, or both.

      This bill is identical to Assembly Bill No. 1913 which was amended and released by this committee on this date.