STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RONALD S. DANCER
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Assemblyman WAYNE P. DEANGELO
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen Coughlin, McGuckin, Assemblywoman McKnight and Assemblyman Thomson
SYNOPSIS
Requires interior light of motor vehicle be turned on when stopped by law enforcement under certain circumstances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
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. a. 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] $35 shall be imposed upon any person who [purposely refuses] fails to comply with this section.
b. The chief administrator shall utilize the Internet and any other available means to promote public awareness that drivers are required to activate the interior light of a motor vehicle 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.
c. 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 on the first day of the fourth month next following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires a driver of a motor vehicle to turn on the vehicle’s interior light when stopped by a law enforcement officer at certain times, including nighttime or during inclement weather, without being requested to do so by the officer. The bill also requires a driver to turn on the interior light at a law enforcement officer’s request.
Under current law, a law enforcement officer may request a driver to turn on the interior light of a vehicle: 1) from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise; 2) whenever precipitation or moisture requires the use of windshield wipers; and 3) when there is insufficient light to view persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of 500 feet ahead. The fine for failing to comply with a law enforcement officer’s request is $50.
This bill reduces the fine to $35. In addition, the bill requires the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to utilize the Internet and any other available means to promote public awareness that drivers are required to activate the interior light when stopped by a law enforcement officer. The bill’s effective date is the first day of the fourth month following the date of enactment in order to give drivers time to learn about the change in the law.