Sponsored by:
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Senator JAMES W. HOLZAPFEL
District 10 (Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Requires interior light of motor vehicle be turned on when stopped by law enforcement under certain circumstances.
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 during the period when lighted lamps are required, or upon request of the officer during the period when lighted lamps are not required. A fine of $50 shall be imposed upon any person who [purposely refuses] fails to comply with this section.
As used in this section, “when lighted lamps are required” means the same as set forth in R.S.39:3-46.
(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 at certain times.
Under current law, during the period when lighted lamps are required, an officer may request a driver to turn on the interior light of a vehicle when stopped. A fine of $50 is imposed on a person who fails to comply with this request.
The bill requires that, when a driver is stopped by a law enforcement officer, the interior light of the vehicle be turned on during the period when lighted lamps are required, or, upon the request of the law enforcement officer, during the period when lighted lamps are not required. The fine would remain $50.
The bill also defines the phrase “when lighted lamps are required” to mean at any time from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise; whenever rain, mist, snow or other precipitation or atmospheric moisture requires the use of windshield wipers by motorists; and during any time when, due to smoke, fog, unfavorable atmospheric conditions, or for any other cause there is not sufficient light to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of 500 feet ahead.