Sponsored by:
Senator JEFF VAN DREW
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Senator MICHAEL J. DOHERTY
District 23 (Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Oroho, Norcross and A.R.Bucco
SYNOPSIS
Prohibits law enforcement agency from conducting certain checkpoints and inspections limited only to motorcycles.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning certain motor vehicle stops and supplementing Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. No law enforcement agency shall conduct a roadside checkpoint or other systematic inspection of vehicles on the highways of this State that is limited to a certain type of vehicle.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to roadside checkpoint or inspection of commercial vehicles as defined in section 3 of P.L.1990, c.103 (C.39:3-10.11).
This section shall not be construed to restrict or limit any other type of checkpoint or roadblock which is lawful.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill prohibits law enforcement agencies from establishing checkpoints limited to certain types of vehicles. This bill would require that all checkpoints include all types of vehicles, but would not restrict any other type of checkpoint or roadblock.
New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Washington have recently enacted similar legislation in response to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) funding of motorcycle-only checkpoints to stop motorcyclists to check equipment and vehicle paperwork.
The NHTSA program, which began in New York State and is continuing in Georgia, encourages states to establish checkpoints where only motorcycles are pulled over.
This bill would prohibit the profiling of any specific vehicle type when establishing a law enforcement checkpoint or roadblock.