Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JAMEL C. HOLLEY
District 20 (Union)
Assemblywoman ANNETTE CHAPARRO
District 33 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Requires 10 percent reduction in certain automobile insurance premiums for installation of dashboard cameras.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning a reduction in premiums for certain automobile insurance coverage for the installation of dashboard cameras and supplementing Title 17 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Not later than 180 days after the effective date of this act, every rate filing for private passenger automobile insurance shall contain a 10 percent premium reduction for personal injury protection coverage, bodily injury liability coverage, property damage coverage, and physical damage coverage for a named insured who has installed a dashboard camera in the insured automobile in accordance with the provisions of this act.
2. An insurer may require reasonable proof that a private passenger automobile is equipped with a dashboard camera and that such camera is in operating condition before providing a reduction in the premiums for coverage as required by section 1 of this act. A visual inspection of the automobile in accordance with section 42, 43 or 44 of P.L.1990, c.8 (C.17:33B-34, 17:33B-35 or 17:33B-36) shall be considered reasonable proof. An insurer may also require proof of ownership of a dashboard camera before providing any reduction in the premiums for that coverage.
3. a. In the settlement of any claim involving a private passenger automobile, an insurer shall review any available images from a dashboard camera or dashboard cameras installed in any of the motor vehicles to which that claim relates.
b. The images from a dashboard camera shall be considered based on the totality of the circumstances of a claim, and those images shall not be deemed to be dispositive, but shall be considered as any other evidence relating to a claim.
4. The Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, in consultation with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, shall establish standards for the size, location and use of dashboard cameras installed in private passenger automobiles. The commissioner may maintain a list of those dashboard cameras approved as conforming to the specifications and requirements established for those cameras.
5. The
Commissioner of Banking and Insurance may suspend an insurer's obligation to
provide the premium reduction required pursuant to section 1 of this act if the
commissioner determines that compliance with this requirement will result in an
insurer’s financial condition becoming unsafe or unsound.
6. This act shall take effect on the 180th day next following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires a 10 percent premium reduction for personal injury protection coverage, bodily injury liability coverage, property damage coverage, and physical damage coverage for a named insured who has installed a dashboard camera in the insured private passenger automobile in accordance with the bill’s provisions.
An insurer may require reasonable proof that a private passenger automobile is equipped with a dashboard camera and that the camera is in operating condition before providing the reduction in premiums. A visual inspection of the automobile in accordance with existing provisions of law shall be considered reasonable proof. An insurer may also require proof of ownership of the dashboard camera before providing any reduction in the premiums for that coverage.
In the settlement of any claim involving a private passenger automobile, an insurer shall review any available images from a dashboard camera or dashboard cameras installed in any of the motor vehicles to which that claim relates. The images from a dashboard camera shall be considered based on the totality of the circumstances of a claim, and those images shall not be deemed to be dispositive, but shall be considered as any other evidence relating to a claim.
The Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, in consultation with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, shall establish standards for the size, location and use of dashboard cameras installed in private passenger automobiles. The commissioner may maintain a list of those dashboard cameras approved as conforming to the specifications and requirements established for those cameras.
The commissioner may suspend an insurer's obligation to provide the premium reduction required pursuant to this bill if the commissioner determines that compliance with this requirement will result in an insurer’s financial condition becoming unsafe or unsound.