SENATE, No. 1740

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED DECEMBER 19, 1996

By Senator CIESLA

An Act concerning drivers' licenses and amending P.L.1987, c.20.

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

    1. Section 2 of P.L.1987, c.20 (C.39:3-9a) is amended to read as follows:

    2. Each driver's license issued pursuant to R.S.39:3-10 shall have the legal name of the licensee endorsed thereon in his own handwriting. For purposes of this section, legal name shall mean the name recorded on a birth certificate unless otherwise changed by marriage, divorce [or], order of court or other lawful means pursuant to which the name is used consistently and is not used for a criminal or fraudulent purpose. The director may require that only the legal name be recorded on the driver's license. A person who has been issued a driver's license pursuant to R.S.39:3-10 whose name is changed due to marriage, divorce or by order of court shall notify the director of the change in name within two weeks after the change is made.

    A person who fails to notify the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles of a change in name as required in this section shall be subject to a fine of $10.00. A person who fails to endorse a driver's license in his own handwriting as required in this section shall be subject to a fine of $20.00. A person who is fined under this section for a violation of this section shall not be subject to a surcharge under the New Jersey Merit Rating Plan as provided in section 6 of P.L.1983, c.65 (C.17:29A-35).

(cf: P.L.1988, c.8, s.1)

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    Under current law, a driver's license issued pursuant to R.S.39:3-10 must have the legal name of the licensee endorsed thereon in his own handwriting. The law defines "legal name" as the name recorded on a birth certificate, unless otherwise changed by marriage, divorce or order of court. Under this bill, "legal name" also would include a name change by other lawful means pursuant to which the name is used consistently and is not used for a criminal or fraudulent purpose.

Expands definition of legal name for purposes of issuing drivers' licenses.