SENATE, No. 1882

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MARCH 10, 1997

By Senators BENNETT and PALAIA

An Act concerning motor vehicle registration plates and supplementing 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 application of any person who is the owner or lessee of a motor vehicle registered in this State, the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles shall issue special New Jersey Devils registration plates. In addition to the registration number and other markings or identification otherwise prescribed by law, a New Jersey Devils license plate shall display the words "New Jersey Devils," depict the New Jersey Devils emblem and be of a design approved by the director. Issuance of New Jersey Devils license plates in accordance with this section shall be subject to the limitations of section 3 of P.L.1959, c.56 (C.39:3-33.5) and other applicable requirements of chapter 3 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.

    b. The application fee for the New Jersey Devils registration plates shall be $50, in addition to the fees otherwise prescribed by law for the registration of a motor vehicle. The portion of the application fee necessary to defray the reasonable and actual cost of producing, issuing, renewing, making computer programming changes in connection with and publicizing these special plates shall be allocated to the division.

    c. The director shall promulgate rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) necessary to effectuate the purpose of this act.

    d. The director shall inform eligible motorists of the opportunity to obtain New Jersey Devils license plates by including a notice with motor vehicle registration renewals and posting appropriate posters or signs in division facilities and offices. The notices, posters and signs shall be designed by the director.

    e. In the event that the average cost per license plate as certified by the director and approved by the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor, is greater than the $50 application fee established in subsection b. of this section in two consecutive fiscal years, the

director may discontinue the issuance of New Jersey Devils license plates.

    2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the sixth month after enactment.

STATEMENT

    This bill directs the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to establish a special New Jersey Devils license plate. The New Jersey Devils hockey team is one of the State's professional sports teams; these license plates will allow fans to proudly display their support for the team. The special plates would contain the words "New Jersey Devils" and the team's emblem. A $50 fee would be charged to fund the issuance of the plates, in addition to the fees otherwise required for the registration of motor vehicles. There would not be an additional renewal fee in subsequent years. The bill directs the DMV to include information on the special plates in mailings of motor vehicle registration renewal notices. In addition, the division would be required to post appropriate posters or signs in its facilities to notify eligible motorists of the opportunity to obtain these plates.

Establishes New Jersey Devils license plate.