New Jersey-2022-A5732-Introduced

An Act requiring the creation and issuance of license plates for qualified veterans to allow parking in parking spots reserved for persons with a disability 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 P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), "disabled veteran" means a resident of this State who is certified by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs as having any degree of service-connected disability.

b. The Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall, upon proper application thereof, issue a qualified disabled veteran license plate for any motor vehicle owned or leased and registered in the State by a disabled veteran. In addition to the registration number and other markings or identification otherwise prescribed by law, the license plate shall display the words "Disabled Veteran" and a wheelchair symbol. Issuance of qualified disabled veteran license plates shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 3 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes, except as hereinafter otherwise specifically provided.

c. Application for issuance of qualified disabled veteran license plates shall be made to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission in a form and manner as prescribed by the chief administrator. There shall be no cost to the applicant for these license plates.

d. A qualified disabled veteran license plate is not transferable and is exclusively for the use of the person to whom it is duly issued.

e. The chief administrator shall notify motorists of the availability of license plates for qualified disabled veterans by including a notice with all motor vehicle registration renewals and by posting appropriate posters or signs in all motor vehicle commission facilities and offices, as may be provided by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. The notices, posters, and signs shall be designed by the chief administrator.

2. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, a disabled veteran issued a qualified disabled veteran license plate may park in a parking space restricted for use by a person with a disability provided that the disabled veteran displays the disabled veteran's valid, unexpired qualified disabled veteran license plate on the motor vehicle parked in that parking space or zone. A person who has been issued a qualified disabled veteran license plate by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall not be required to obtain a person with a disability identification card and shall not be required to obtain or display any special license plates or placards issued to persons with a disability by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission in order to park in a parking space or zone pursuant to this section, provided that the person displays the person's valid, unexpired qualified disabled veteran license plate on the motor vehicle while parked in that parking space or zone.

b. The knowing misuse or abuse of any benefit, privilege, or consideration granted to a holder of a qualified disabled veteran license plate shall be sufficient cause for the revocation of all benefits, privileges, and considerations afforded to the holder of the special license plate and the forfeiture of the qualified disabled veteran license plate.

3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the sixth month following enactment. The Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission may take such anticipatory acts in advance of the date as may be necessary for the timely implementation of this act.

STATEMENT

This bill requires the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to issue special license plates for qualified disabled veterans.

The plates allow disabled veterans to park in a parking space or zone that is restricted for use by a person with a disability, provided that the disabled veteran displays the veteran's valid, unexpired qualified disabled veteran license plate on the motor vehicle while parked in the parking space or zone.

Under the bill, these special plates are to display the words "Disabled Veteran" and a wheelchair symbol. There is to be no cost to the applicant for these special license plates.

Finally, the bill specifies that these plates are not transferable and are exclusively for the use of the person to whom they are duly issued. The knowing misuse or abuse of any benefit, privilege, or consideration granted to a holder of a qualified disabled veteran license plate will be sufficient cause for the revocation of the benefits, privileges, and considerations provided to the holder of the license plate and the forfeiture of the license plate.