SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1852

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 24, 1997

      The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 1852.

      This bill is intended to prevent accidents which result when ice or snow dislodged from moving motor vehicles strikes other vehicles or pedestrians. These accidents, which have caused injury and death, may occur when the driver of a passenger vehicle or truck fails to remove accumulated snow or ice from the top of a vehicle.

      As amended and released by the committee, the bill provides that if snow or ice dislodged from a noncommercial moving vehicle strikes another vehicle or pedestrian, causing injury or property damage, the operator would be subject to a fine of at least $200, but not more than $1,000. In the case of a commercial vehicle, the operator, owner, lessee or bailee of the vehicle would be subject to a fine of at least $500, but not more than $1,500. The bill also provides that the offender would not be assessed motor vehicle points or surcharges.

       As introduced, the bill provided that the driver of vehicle from which snow or ice falls and strikes another vehicle or pedestrian causing injury or property damage would be guilty of careless driving.

      As amended and released by the committee, this bill is identical to Assembly Bill No. 2721, which also was amended and released by the committee on this date.