Bill Text: NJ A4029 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Concerns use of emergency warning lights.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-05-19 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee [A4029 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A4029-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Concerns use of emergency warning lights.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning use of emergency warning lights and amending P.L.1977, c.223 and supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 7 of P.L.1977, c.223 (C.39:3-54.13) is amended to read as follows:
7. Any person authorized to operate emergency warning lights pursuant to P.L.1977, c.223 (C.39:3-54.7 et seq.) who willfully operates such emergency warning lights in violation of the provisions of P.L.1977, c.223 (C.39:3-54.7 et seq.) shall be liable to a penalty of not more than [$100] $200 and the person's privilege to operate such emergency warning lights may be suspended or revoked by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. A person who is not authorized to operate emergency warning lights who willfully operates such emergency warning lights shall be liable to a penalty of not more than [$200] $400.
(cf: P.L.2005, c.218, s.6)
2. (New section) a. No person shall sell or offer for sale to the general public a blue vehicle emergency warning light, unless the purchaser presents to the seller a valid identification card issued pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1977, c.223 (C.39:3-54.11), or issued pursuant to sections 5 and 6 of P.L.2005, c.34 (C.39:3-54.22 and C.39:3-54.23).
b. Violation this act shall be a disorderly person's offense and a person who violates this act shall be fined $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for each subsequent offense.
3. (New section) A person who, with the intent to impersonate a law-enforcement officer, operates any vehicle, which by its coloration, insignia, lettering, blue or red light resembles a vehicle used, owned, possessed, or operated by any law-enforcement agency, with purpose to induce a reasonable person to submit to such pretended official authority or otherwise to act in reliance upon that pretense is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill increases the penalties for unauthorized use of emergency warning lights.
Under current law, the penalty for unauthorized use of emergency lights is a $100 fine and suspension or revocation of the privilege to operate emergency lights, and a fine of up to $200 for unauthorized persons who use emergency lights. This bill would double these penalties to fines of up to $200 and $400 respectively.
This bill also establishes that it is a disorderly persons offense to sell or offer to sell to the general public a blue vehicle emergency warning light, unless the purchaser presents to the seller a valid identification card issued pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1977, c.223 (C.39:3-54.11), or issued pursuant to sections 5 and 6 of P.L.2005, c.34 (C.39:3-54.22 and C.39:3-54.23). Such identification cards are issued to certain volunteer fire or emergency services personnel. The sale of blue vehicle emergency warning lights is a violation under this bill that is punishable by a penalty of a $500 fine for a first offense and $1,000 fine for each subsequent offense.
Finally, the bill would make it a crime to impersonate a law enforcement officer by using a vehicle which is modified with blue or red lights or other insignia to resemble a police vehicle. This bill would make it illegal to use such impersonation with the purpose of inducing a reasonable person to submit to such pretended official authority or otherwise to act in reliance upon that pretense. Such impersonation would be a crime of the fourth degree. A fourth degree crime is punishable by a prison term of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.
