SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

SENATE, No. 1435

 

with committee amendments

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED: OCTOBER 28, 1996

 

 

      The Senate Commerce Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 1435.

      This bill, as amended by the committee, excludes from the definition of an "at-fault accident" those accidents in which a medical doctor is at-fault while operating a motor vehicle with a visible flashing blue light in response to a medical emergency. Under current law, such accidents are charged against the personal driving record of the medical doctor, if he is at-fault, and could lead to the assessment of automobile insurance eligibility points against the doctor. This bill precludes an insurer from assessing automobile insurance eligibility points against and thus surcharging a medical doctor who is involved in an at-fault accident while operating a motor vehicle with a visible flashing blue light in response to a medical emergency.