SENATE, No. 2235

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED NOVEMBER 17, 1997

By Senators SINGER and BARK

An Act concerning license plates and supplementing chapter 3 of 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 request of a municipal police department, the director shall issue license plates that may be displayed by the department on motor vehicles being used for surveillance purposes. These license plates shall be indistinguishable in appearance and markings from plates issued to the general public and may be displayed interchangeably on more than one motor vehicle. Except as provided in this section, the issuance and use of these license plates shall be subject to all applicable provisions of law governing license plates for motor vehicles owned by a municipality.

    b. Pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the director may adopt rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this act.

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

STATEMENT

    This bill would authorize the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in the Department of Transportation to issue special license plates for use by a municipal police department when performing surveillance. Local police at times have access to vehicles, provided through used car dealers and other sources, that may be used for such undercover work. This bill would provide a police department with a set of license plates that could be displayed interchangeably on these vehicles when they are being used for surveillance purposes. These license plates would be indistinguishable in appearance and markings from those issued by DMV to the general public.

Authorizes police surveillance license plates.