SENATE, No. 771

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 15, 1996

By Senator BUBBA

An Act concerning motor vehicle offenses and supplementing chapter 5 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.

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

    1. In addition to any fine, penalty or forfeiture imposed and collected under authority of law for any violation of the provisions of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes, the court also may impose upon the offender a special assessment for each violation. The amount of the special assessment authorized under this section shall not exceed 20 percent of the total amount of the fine, penalty or forfeiture imposed by the court for the violation. The amounts assessed under this section and collected by the court shall be forwarded to the chief financial officer of the municipality and deposited in a separate account to be known as the " (Municipality) Law Enforcement Fund." The moneys deposited in the fund shall be used exclusively for the purposes of defraying the municipality's law enforcement costs.

    In the case of a municipality that has not established a police department or force pursuant to N.J.S.40A:14-118, the court shall forward any amounts assessed and collected under this section to the chief financial officer of the county wherein that municipality is located, who shall deposit them in a separate account. The amounts deposited in that account shall be used exclusively for the purpose of reducing the amounts the property taxpayers of that county are required to pay to the county in property taxes in the subsequent tax year.

    2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month following enactment.

STATEMENT

    This bill permits the municipal court to impose an additional assessment on all motor vehicle violation fines and penalties. The amount of the additional assessment may not exceed 20 percent of the total fine or penalty the court imposes for the violation itself. The amounts assessed and collected by the court are to be forwarded to the chief financial officer of the municipality and deposited in a special municipal law enforcement fund. The moneys in the fund are to be expended exclusively for the purpose of defraying the municipality's costs of providing law enforcement services.

    In the case of a municipality that does not have a municipal police force, any amounts assessed and collected under this bill are to be forwarded to the chief financial officer of the county and deposited in a special account. These amounts are to be used in the following tax year to reduce county property taxes.

Permits additional assessment on motor vehicle violations to defray municipal police costs.