S2320

An Act providing certain emergency workers with certain parking privileges during the performance of emergency services and amending P.L.1977, c.223.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. Section 5 of P.L.1977, c.223 (C.39:3-54.11) is amended to read as follows:

5. a. The Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall prepare suitable identification cards bearing the signature of the chief administrator which, upon the request of the mayor or chief executive officer of any municipality recognizing and being served by [a] an emergency medical technician, volunteer fire company or a volunteer first aid or rescue squad on a form and in a manner prescribed by the chief administrator, shall be forwarded to the mayor or chief executive officer, to be countersigned and issued by the mayor or chief executive officer to the emergency medical technician, members in good standing of the volunteer fire company or first aid or rescue squad.

b. Identification cards issued pursuant to this section and sections 5 and 6 of P.L.2005, c.34 (C.39:3-54.22 and C.39:3-54.23) shall be considered permits to mount and operate emergency warning lights as provided for in P.L.1977, c.223 (C.39:3-54.7 et seq.) and shall apply to any motor vehicle driven by an emergency medical technician, the member of a volunteer fire company, a volunteer first aid or rescue squad or a volunteer Office of Emergency Management. Emergency warning lights shall not be mounted prior to the issuance of the identification cards. Each emergency medical technician, member of a volunteer fire company, a volunteer first aid or rescue squad or a volunteer Office of Emergency Management must carry the identification card while an emergency warning light or lights are operated on the vehicle.

c. The chief administrator shall provide placards to hang on the rearview mirror of a vehicle owned by or leased to a member of a volunteer fire company, a volunteer first aid or rescue squad, a volunteer Office of Emergency Management or an emergency medical technician upon request for use during the course of administering emergency services.

d. “Emergency medical technician” means a person trained in basic life support services as defined in section 1 of P.L.1985, c.351 (C.26:2K-21), and who is certified by the Department of Health to
provide that level of care, including but not limited to Hatzolah emergency medical technicians.

(cf: P.L.2005, c.218, s.4)

2. Section 6 of P.L.1977, c.223 (C.39:3-54.12) is amended to read as follows:

6. a. Nothing contained herein is intended to grant to any emergency medical technician, member of a volunteer fire company, a volunteer first aid or rescue squad or a volunteer Office of Emergency Management any privileges or exemptions denied to the drivers of other vehicles, and such members operating emergency warning lights shall drive with due regard for the safety of all persons and shall obey all the traffic laws of this State including R.S.39:4-81, provided, however, that the drivers of non-emergency vehicles upon any highway shall yield the right of way to the vehicle of any member of a volunteer fire company, a volunteer first aid or rescue squad or a volunteer Office of Emergency Management operating emergency warning lights in the same manner as is provided for authorized emergency vehicles pursuant to R.S.39:4-92.

b. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. of this section, an emergency medical technician, member of a volunteer fire company, a volunteer first aid or rescue squad or a volunteer Office of Emergency Management shall not be issued a parking ticket for parking in non-parking zones while in the course of administering emergency services, unless such parking creates a danger to the public, if the designated placard established pursuant to subsection b. of section 5 of P.L.1977, c.223 (C.39:3-54.11) is hanging from the rearview mirror of the parked vehicle.

(cf: P.L.2005, c.218, s.5)

3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill provides that emergency medical technicians may be issued identification cards by the Chief Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission, allowing for the mounting of emergency warning lights on motor vehicles used to respond to an emergency. Hatzolah emergency medical technicians are included under the definition of emergency medical technician for purposes of this bill.

Hatzolah emergency medical technicians provide volunteer emergency medical services throughout the United States and the world. Hatzolah workers are always on call, so that the closest volunteers may respond to an emergency call in their own vehicles and from any location.

This bill provides that a member of a volunteer fire company, a volunteer first aid or rescue squad, a volunteer Office of Emergency Management or an emergency medical technician may apply for a placard to hang in the rearview mirror of a vehicle owned or leased by the individual for use during the course of administering emergency services.

A vehicle displaying this placard shall not be issued a parking ticket for parking in a non-parking zone unless such parking creates a danger to the public, if the driver or the vehicle is responding to an emergency.

The sponsor hopes that this bill eliminates the ticketing of parked vehicles of designated individuals appropriately responding to emergency situations, as volunteering to provide emergency services should be encouraged by the State of New Jersey.