Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOHN F. AMODEO
District 2 (Atlantic)
Assemblywoman MARLENE CARIDE
District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes specialty street rod and historic motor vehicle license plates and dedicates net proceeds to General Fund.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning street rod and historic motor vehicle license plates and supplementing Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. For the purposes of this section:
"Historic motor vehicle" means any motor vehicle that is at least 25 years old, owned as a collector's item, and used solely for exhibition and educational purposes by the owner.
"Street rod" means a modified motor vehicle manufactured before 1949 and which is registered in a New Jersey street rod club fully affiliated with the National Street Rod Association, Inc.
b. The Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall establish street rod and historic motor vehicle specialty license plates. The chief administrator is authorized to enter into licensing contracts or agreements with the manufacturers of street rod and historic motor vehicles, or other entities that own the rights to street rod or historic motor vehicle brand logos, for the design and sale of street rod and historic motor vehicle specialty license plates that are specific to the make of street rod and historic motor vehicles registered in the State.
c. Upon proper application, the chief administrator shall issue a street rod or historic motor vehicle specialty license plate or license plates to a street rod or historic motor vehicle owned and registered in the State. In addition to the registration number and other markings or identification otherwise prescribed by law, the license plate shall display wording and a design, including an emblem and color scheme, chosen by the chief administrator, in coordination with the street rod or historic motor vehicle manufacturer or other entity that owns the rights to the street rod or historic motor vehicle brand logo.
d. In addition to the fees otherwise prescribed by law for the registration of a street rod or historic motor vehicle, the commission shall impose and collect a fee in an amount to be determined by the chief administrator for the issuance of street rod and historic motor vehicle specialty license plates. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, revenues derived from the additional fee imposed and collected for the issuance of street rod and historic motor vehicle specialty license plates, less the amount necessary to reimburse the commission for administrative costs pursuant to subsection e. of this section, shall be remitted to the General Fund.
e. Prior to the deposit of license plate fees collected pursuant to subsection d. of this section into the General Fund, amounts thereof as are necessary shall be used to reimburse the commission for costs reasonably and actually incurred, as stipulated by the chief administrator, for producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of street rod and historic motor vehicle specialty license plates, including the cost of any initial computer programming changes.
f. The chief administrator shall notify eligible motorists of the opportunity to obtain street rod and historic motor vehicle specialty license plates by posting appropriate posters or signs in all commission facilities and offices and by including the information on the commission's website.
g. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S.39:3-33, or any other law to the contrary, an owner of a vehicle registered as a street rod or historic motor vehicle shall not be required to display more than one license plate issued for the vehicle, which plate shall be displayed on the rear of the vehicle.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to establish specialty street rod and historic motor vehicle license plates. In addition to the registration number and other markings or identification otherwise prescribed by law, the license plates will display wording and a design specific to the make of the street rod or historic motor vehicle requesting the plates. The chief administrator is authorized to enter into licensing contracts or agreements with the manufacturers, or other entities that own the rights to street rod and historic motor vehicle brand logos.
The bill defines an historic motor vehicle as any motor vehicle that is at least 25 years old, owned as a collector's item, and used solely for exhibition and educational purposes by the owner. A street rod is defined as a modified motor vehicle manufactured before 1949 that is registered in a New Jersey street rod club fully affiliated with the National Street Rod Association, Inc.
The bill specifies that the commission will charge a fee, in an amount to be determined by the chief administrator, for the issuance of these specialty license plates. Revenues derived from these fees, less any amount necessary to reimburse the commission for administrative costs, will be deposited into the General Fund.
Motorists will be notified of the opportunity to obtain street rod and historic motor vehicle specialty license plates by postings in all commission facilities and offices and on the commission's website.
An owner of a vehicle registered as a street rod or historic motor vehicle is exempted under the bill from the requirement that motor vehicles have two license plates. Street rods and historic motor vehicles are only required to display one license plate, which is to be displayed on the rear of the vehicle.