SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

SENATE, No. 1744

 

with committee amendments

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED: MAY 15, 1997

 

 

      The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 1744.

      Regulations promulgated by the Department of Transportation pursuant to R.S. 39:4-81, concerning the observance of traffic control devices, establish as a traffic offense the failure of a driver to comply with high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane restrictions on certain limited access highways in the State. This offense carries a monetary fine of $76 and also results in the assessment of two motor vehicle penalty points pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1982, c.43 (C.39:5-30.5).

      As amended and released by the committee, this bill prohibits the assessment of such penalty points for failure to comply with HOV lane restrictions, and provides for the following fines for violating these restrictions: a fine of $50 for the first offense; $100 for the second offense; and $250 for the third or subsequent offense.

      As introduced, the bill merely prohibited the imposition of motor vehicle points for failure to comply with the HOV lane restrictions.