Sponsored by:
Senator PETER J. BARNES, III
District 18 (Middlesex)
Senator JAMES W. HOLZAPFEL
District 10 (Ocean)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Greenstein and Stack
SYNOPSIS
Requires interior light of motor vehicle be turned on when stopped by law enforcement.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning motor vehicle lighting and amending P.L.1997, c.374.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1997, c.374 (C.39:4-57.1) is amended to read as follows:
1. The driver of a motor vehicle equipped with an interior light, when stopped by a law enforcement officer [during the period when lighted lamps are required], shall [, upon request of the officer,] activate an interior light of the vehicle in order to illuminate the driver's compartment of the vehicle. A fine of $50 shall be imposed upon any person who [purposely refuses] fails to comply with this section.
(cf: P.L.1997, c.374, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the driver of a motor vehicle to turn on the interior light when stopped by a law enforcement officer.
Under current law, during the period when lighted lamps are required, an officer may request that a driver turn on the interior light of a vehicle when stopped. A person who fails to comply with this request is to be fined $50. This bill requires that the interior light of the vehicle be turned on anytime a driver is stopped by a law enforcement officer. The fine would remain $50.