SENATE, No. 899

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MARCH 7, 1996

By Senators CARDINALE and KOSCO

An Act concerning speeding by physicians in emergencies and amending R.S.39:4-102.

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

    1. R.S.39:4-102 is amended to read as follows:

39:4-102. If a physician's motor vehicle is stopped for exceeding the speed limit while in the act of responding to an emergency call, the registration number of the vehicle and the driver's license number may be inspected and noted and the physician shall then be allowed to proceed in the vehicle to his destination. Such proceedings may be taken subsequently as would have been proper had the person not been a physician.

    Notwithstanding the provisions of this section to the contrary, a physician who shall provide proof during such proceedings that the physician was responding to an emergency call shall not be subject to any fine, penalty, forfeiture, suspension, assessment of motor vehicle points pursuant to P.L.1982, c.43 (C.39:5-30.5 et seq.), or automobile insurance eligibility points pursuant to section 26 of P.L.1990, c.8 (C.17:33B-14) for exceeding the speed limit.

(cf: R.S.39:4-102)

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill exempts a physician whose motor vehicle is stopped for exceeding the speed limit while in the act of responding to an emergency call from incurring a penalty for exceeding the speed limit if proof is provided of the emergency. Under current law, a law enforcement officer may inspect and note the registration number of the vehicle and the driver's license number and subsequently undertake proceedings as would have been proper had the person not been a physician. Under this bill, a physician may provide proof during a court proceeding for a speeding violation that the physician was responding to an emergency call and thereby avoid the imposition of any fine, penalty, forfeiture, suspension, assessment of motor vehicle points pursuant to P.L.1982, c.43 (C.39:5-30.5 et seq.), or automobile insurance eligibility points pursuant to section 26 of P.L.1990, c.8 (C.17:33B-14) for exceeding the speed limit.

Exempts physicians who exceed the speed limit while responding to emergency calls from penalties.