Bill Text: NJ A3719 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Increases penalties for underage drivers who have consumed alcohol.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-03-16 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee [A3719 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A3719-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RONALD S. DANCER
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Increases penalties for underage drivers who have consumed alcohol.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning certain motor vehicle operators and amending P.L.1992, c.189.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1992, c.189 (C.39:4-50.14) is amended to read as follows:
1. Any person under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages who operates a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.01% or more, but less than 0.08%, by weight of alcohol in his blood, shall forfeit his right to operate a motor vehicle over the highways of this State or shall be prohibited from obtaining a license to operate a motor vehicle in this State for a period of [not less than 30 or more than 90] 180 days beginning on the date he becomes eligible to obtain a license or on the day of conviction, whichever is later, and shall perform community service for a period of [not less than 15 or more than] 30 days.
In addition, the person shall satisfy the program and fee requirements of an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center or participate in a program of alcohol education and highway safety as prescribed by the chief administrator. Following the successful completion of the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center program, the person shall satisfy the requirements of a supplemental alcohol intervention and treatment program. The program, which shall be developed by the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in consultation with the Motor Vehicle Commission and the county Boards of Health, shall consist of at least 16 classroom hours.
The penalties provided under the provisions of this section shall be in addition to the penalties which the court may impose under N.J.S.2C:33-15, R.S.33:1-81, R.S.39:4-50 or any other law.
(cf: P.L.2003, c.314, s.3)
2. This act shall take effect the first day of the second month following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill would increase the penalties for underage motor vehicle operators who have consumed alcohol.
Under current law, drivers
under the age of 21 who are found to have consumed an alcoholic beverage, but
who are not legally drunk and therefore not prosecuted under the State's drunk
driving law, are penalized by a license suspension of 30 to 90 days, community
service for not less than 15 or more than 30 days and
are required to fulfill the program and fee requirements of an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center program.
This bill would increase those penalties to a mandatory 180 day license suspension and a mandatory 30 days of community service. In addition, the bill would require violators to satisfy the requirements of a supplemental alcohol treatment program. The program, which is to be developed by the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in consultation with the Motor Vehicle Commission and the various county Boards of Health, is to consist of at least 16 classroom hours.
