STATE OF NEW JERSEY
215th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2012 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman NELSON T. ALBANO
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Assemblyman MATTHEW W. MILAM
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Assemblyman JOHN F. AMODEO
District 2 (Atlantic)
Assemblyman JOHN DIMAIO
District 23 (Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren)
Assemblywoman ALISON LITTELL MCHOSE
District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Riley
SYNOPSIS
Reestablishes historic driving privileges afforded holders of agricultural driver's licenses in operating farm equipment and vehicles.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning agricultural driver's licenses and amending P.L.1942, c.324.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1942, c.324 (C.39:3-11.1) is amended to read as follows:
1. Any person, under seventeen years of age and not under sixteen years of age, may be licensed to drive motor vehicles in agricultural pursuits as herein limited; provided such person has, after successfully completing an approved minimum six-hour behind-the-wheel driver training course, passed an examination satisfactory to the chief administrator as to his ability as an operator. The chief administrator, upon payment of the lawful fee and after he or a person authorized by him has examined the applicant and is satisfied of the applicant's ability as an operator, may, in his discretion, license the applicant to drive any motor vehicle which is registered under the provisions of R.S.39:3-24 and R.S.39:3-25. The holder of an agricultural permit or license shall be subject to the applicable requirements, restrictions and penalties for special learner's permit holders provided under section 6 of P.L.1977, c.25 (C.39:3-13.2a); provided, however, the holder of an agricultural permit or license shall not be required to be accompanied by, and under the supervision of, a licensed motor vehicle driver of this State over the age of 21 in order to be permitted to operate a motor vehicle registered under the provisions of R.S.39:3-24 or R.S.39:3-25 for farm-related purposes, nor shall the holder of an agricultural permit or license be required to display any special learner's permit decals on such a motor vehicle. Such registration shall expire on March thirty-first of each year terminating the period for which such license is issued. The annual license fee for such license shall be one dollar ($1.00), and is for the limited use herein provided, and is not to be used in the operation of any other vehicle and shall have the name of the licensee endorsed thereon in his own handwriting. The holder of an agricultural license shall be entitled to a probationary driver's license upon attaining the age of 17 years and shall be subject to applicable restrictions and penalties in section 4 of P.L.1950, c.127 (C.39:3-13.4) as they pertain to a probationary driver's license holder.
(cf: P.L.2009, c.38, s.4)
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the third month following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill clarifies the requirements for persons wishing to become holders of agricultural driving permits and licenses.
Since 1942, the State of New Jersey has issued agricultural driver's licenses and permits to allow 16 year olds to lawfully operate farm equipment, and trucks registered as farm vehicles, when engaged directly and exclusively in agricultural activities.
The graduated driver license program, which was established in 2001, significantly changed the driving privileges of permit holders and new licensees. These changes, particularly the requirement that 16 year old permit holders must be in the company and under the supervision of a licensed driver over the age of 21, undermine the purpose and value of an agricultural driver's license.
This bill would exempt agricultural driver's licensees from that restriction, provided they successfully complete an approved minimum six-hour behind-the-wheel driver training course, and clarify that the requirement to display special learner's permit decals does not apply to holders of agricultural permits or licenses or motor vehicles registered as farm vehicles. The decal requirement was established in 2009 as an enforcement tool for ensuring permit holders complied with the requirements of being accompanied by a licensed driver and not driving after 11 p.m. pursuant to Kyleigh's Law. However, farm vehicles cannot be operated on the roadways between sunset and sunrise, and less than 200 agricultural driver's licenses are issued to 16 years olds each year.