Bill Text: NJ A1526 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires transportation network companies to provide riders with certain information and to issue illuminated identifying markers; requires MVC to create transportation network company driver database.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-14 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee [A1526 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A1526-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman KEVIN J. ROONEY
District 40 (Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Giblin
SYNOPSIS
Requires transportation network companies to provide riders with certain information and to issue illuminated identifying markers; requires MVC to create transportation network company driver database.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning transportation network companies and amending and supplementing P.L.2017, c.26.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 8 of P.L.2017, c.26 (C.39:5H-8) is amended to read as follows:
8. A transportation network company shall provide to a transportation network company rider on its website or digital network prior to the rider entering a transportation network company driver's personal vehicle: (1) the name and a picture of the transportation network company driver that is to provide the prearranged ride; (2) a picture of the driver's personal vehicle that is to be used to provide the prearranged ride; and (3) the make, model, color, and license plate number of the driver's personal vehicle that is to be used to provide the prearranged ride [prior to the rider entering the driver's personal vehicle].
(cf: P.L.2017, c.26, s.8)
2. Section 23 of P.L.2017, c.26 (C.39:5H-23) is amended to read as follows:
23. a. Each transportation network company driver shall maintain electronic information while using the transportation network company's digital network that will allow any law enforcement officer, or other city, State, or federal official, to confirm the following information for any transportation network company driver: (1) the driver's identity and a color [photo] picture; (2) the make [and] , model, color, and picture of the driver's personal vehicle; (3) the license plate number of the driver's personal vehicle; and (4) an electronic record of a prearranged ride underway, if any. Each transportation network company driver shall be able to produce this information, upon the lawful request of any law enforcement officer or other city, State, or federal official.
b. A transportation network company shall create an identifying marker capable of being illuminated which shall be submitted to the commission for recording, issued to every transportation network company driver, and displayed on the front and rear of the driver's personal vehicle [when] while the driver [logs] is logged on to the transportation network company's digital network as a driver or [provides] is providing a prearranged ride. The identifying marker shall be illuminated and visible from outside of the vehicle while a driver is logged on to the transportation network company's digital network as a driver during times of darkness or is providing a prearranged ride during times of darkness.
(cf: P.L.2017, c.26, s.23)
3. (New section) The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall create a database that includes information about each transportation network company driver that provides prearranged rides in the State. The database shall include for each driver:
a. the driver's name;
b. a picture of the driver;
c. a picture of all personal vehicles the driver uses to provide prearranged rides; and
d. the make, model, color, and license plate number of all personal vehicles the driver uses to provide prearranged rides.
The commission shall update the database every three months upon receipt of driver information provided by a transportation network company pursuant to section 4 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
Information contained in the database created pursuant to this section shall not be considered a government record pursuant to P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.), P.L.2001, c.404 (C.47:1A-5 et al.), or the common law concerning access to government records. Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting the applicability of any other exemptions under P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.) or P.L.2001, c.404 (C.47:1A-5 et al.).
4. (New section) A transportation network company shall provide to the commission, and update every three months, the following information to be included in a database created by the commission pursuant to section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):
a. the name of every driver that utilizes the transportation network company's digital network as a driver to provide prearranged rides in the State;
b. a picture of every driver that utilizes the transportation network company's digital network as a driver to provide prearranged rides in the State;
c. for each driver that utilizes the transportation network company's digital network as a driver to provide prearranged rides in the State, a picture of all personal vehicles the driver uses to provide prearranged rides; and
d. for each driver that utilizes the transportation network company's digital network as a driver to provide prearranged rides in the State, the make, model, color, and license plate number of all personal vehicles the driver uses to provide prearranged rides.
5. This act shall take
effect on the first day of the third month following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires a transportation network company (company) to provide to a transportation network company rider (rider) the name of the transportation network company driver (driver) that is to provide the rider's prearranged ride, a picture of the driver's personal vehicle that is to be used to provide the prearranged ride, and the make, model, and color of the driver's personal vehicle that is to be used to provide the prearranged ride. This information is to be provided to the rider before the rider enters the driver's personal vehicle.
Under current law, a company is required to provide a rider with a picture of the driver and the license plate number of the driver's personal vehicle before the rider enters the driver's personal vehicle.
Under the bill, the identifying marker that is issued to drivers and which is required to be displayed on the driver's personal vehicle while the driver is logged on to the company's digital network as a driver or is providing a prearranged ride, is to be capable of being illuminated and located on the front and rear of the vehicle. The identifying marker is to be illuminated and visible from outside of the vehicle while the driver is logged on to the company's digital network as a driver during times of darkness or is providing a prearranged ride during times of darkness.
The bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to create, and update every three months, a driver database that is to include certain information about drivers that provide prearranged rides in New Jersey and their personal vehicles that are used to provide prearranged rides. Driver information contained in the database is not to be considered a government record. The bill also requires a company to provide to MVC every three months certain information about its drivers that provide prearranged rides in New Jersey and the personal vehicles its drivers use to provide prearranged rides.
The bill requires a driver to maintain electronic information while using the company's digital network that will allow a law enforcement officer or other official to confirm the color and picture of the driver's personal vehicle.
