SENATE, No. 1280

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED JUNE 3, 1996

 

 

By Senators CASEY, HAINES and Connors

 

 

An Act waiving the driver's license and motor vehicle registration fees for certain volunteers and supplementing chapter 3 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.

 

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

 

    1. a. Upon the approval of the application of any person who is a volunteer member of any fire company or of any first aid or rescue squad in this State, the director shall waive the payment of the required fee for that person's basic driver's license issued pursuant to R.S.39:3-10. The waiver authorized under this subsection shall not be construed to include any other fee imposed for any endorsement to a basic driver's license. Any volunteer whose driver's license is revoked or suspended by the director pursuant to law or regulation shall no longer be eligible for the waiver authorized under this subsection.

    b. (1) The application required under subsection a. of this section shall be in a manner and form prescribed by the director and shall be supported by such proof as the director shall deem satisfactory to establish that the applicant is a bona fide volunteer member of a fire company or of a first aid or rescue squad.

    (2) Any person whose driver's license fee has been waived pursuant to the provisions of this section and who, subsequent to that wavier, resigns, is removed or otherwise terminates or is terminated from his association as a volunteer member of the fire company or of the first aid or rescue squad, shall within 15 days so notify the director. Upon such notice, the director shall charge that person a fee for his a basic driver's license. The amount of the fee shall be proportionate based upon the calendar month and year that person's driver's license is scheduled to expire.

    c. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine of not more than $500, imprisonment in the county jail for a term of not more than 60 days, or both.

 

    2. a. Upon the approval of the application of any person who is a volunteer member of any fire company or of any first aid or rescue squad in this State, the director shall waive the payment of the annual motor vehicle registration fee for either the passenger automobile owned or leased by the applicant and registered under the provisions of R.S.39:3-8 or the noncommercial truck owned or leased by the applicant and registered under the provisions of section 2 of P.L.1968, c.439 (C.39:3-8.1), and which is used by the applicant as his primary means of transportation in travelling to and from his volunteer services with the fire company or the first aid or rescue squad. The waiver authorized under the provisions of this subsection shall apply to and include all additional registration fees and surcharges imposed and collected by the director pursuant to chapter 3 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes and those imposed and collected pursuant to section 68 of P.L.1990, c.8 (C.17:33B-63); provided, however it shall not apply to or include any additional fee, fine or surcharge imposed or assessed as a penalty for any violation, offense, conviction, or accident. Any volunteer whose motor vehicle registration certificate is suspended or revoked by the director pursuant to law or regulation shall no longer be eligible for the waiver authorized under this subsection.

    b. (1) The application required under subsection a. of this section shall be in a manner and form prescribed by the director and shall be supported by such proof as the director shall deem satisfactory to establish that the applicant is a bona fide volunteer member of a fire company or a volunteer member of a first aid squad.

    (2) Any person whose motor vehicle registration fee has been waived pursuant to the provisions of this section and who, subsequent to that waiver, resigns, is removed or otherwise terminates or is terminated from his association as a volunteer member of the volunteer fire company or of the first aid or rescue squad, shall within 15 days so notify the director. Upon such notice, the director shall charge that person a motor vehicle registration fee. The amount of the fee shall be proportionate based upon the calendar month the motor vehicle registration is scheduled to expire.

    c. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine of not more than $500, imprisonment in the county jail for a term of not more than 60 days, or both.

 

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

 

 

STATEMENT

 

    The volunteer firefighters and volunteer members of first aid and rescue squads selflessly serve the citizens of this State. Their contribution to the safety and well-being of the public all too often is unrecognized and taken for granted. The purpose of this bill is to show, in some small way, New Jersey's deep appreciation of the service and sacrifice of these true public servants.

    The bill waives the driver's license fees and motor vehicle registration fees of volunteer members of fire companies and of first aid or rescue squads. The waiver authorized under the bill applies to all registration fees and surcharges, including the insurance surcharges collected under section 68 of P.L.1990, c.8 (C.17:33B-63) for the New Jersey Automobile Full Insurance Underwriting Association (JUA) and the New Jersey Automobile Insurance Guaranty Fund, but does not apply to any additional registration fee or surcharge imposed or assessed as a penalty because of an offense, violation, conviction, or accident.

    Under the provisions of the bill, volunteer members of fire companies and of first aid or rescue squads may apply to the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for a waiver of their driver's license fees and motor vehicle registration fees. The application is to contain such information as the director requires, including appropriate proof of the applicant's volunteer service.

    The motor vehicle registration fee waiver applies to only one vehicle owned or leased by the volunteer, specifically the one the volunteer uses as his primary means of transportation to and from the fire company or first aid or rescue squad.

    A volunteer who resigns or otherwise discontinues his membership in the fire company or in the first aid or rescue squad is required pay a fee, proportionate to the unexpired term of his license or registration, to the director.

    The bill specifies that if any volunteer's driver's license or motor vehicle registration is revoked or suspended by the director, that volunteer is no longer eligible to participate in the waiver program.

    Finally, any person who violates the provisions of the bill is subject to a fine of not more than $500, imprisonment in the county jail for a term of not more than 60 days, or both. This penalty is similar to the penalty set forth in R.S.39:3-10 for individuals who violate the State's driver's licenses law.

 

 

 

Waives driver's license and motor vehicle registration fees for volunteer firefighters and volunteer members of first aid and rescue squads.