Bill Text: NJ S1539 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Grants law enforcement agencies authority to order road closures; increases penalty for violations.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-16 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee [S1539 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-S1539-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator CHRISTOPHER "KIP" BATEMAN
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
SYNOPSIS
Grants law enforcement agencies authority to order road closures; increases penalty for violations.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning road closures and amending P.L.1981, c.229.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1981, c.229 (C.39:4-94.2) is amended to read as follows:
1. Whenever by order of the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation, a State highway, or by resolution of a county governing body, a county public road, or by appropriate action of the governing body of a municipality, a municipal street or road, or by order of any law enforcement agency, any public roadway is declared closed to traffic for any lawful purpose, and a notice of the closing has been posted at the beginning and ending points of the closed section of the highway, road, or street, and a barricade erected at those points, any person who without the permission of the commissioner or governing body of the county, [or] municipality, or law enforcement agency, as the case may be:
a. Mutilates or removes the notice, or damages, destroys or removes any warning sign or signal, or removes the barricade placed or posted by the commissioner or county or municipal governing body or law enforcement agency, at any point along the highway, road or street in connection with or relating to the closed portion thereof; or
b. Drives a vehicle over or upon the closed section of the highway, road or street which he knows or should have reason to know has been closed to traffic; or
c. Violates any rule or regulation for the use of the highway, road or street duly made by the commissioner or county or municipal governing body or law enforcement agency, as authorized by law, he shall be subject to a fine of [not more than $100.00] $250.
d. In addition to any other penalties imposed by this section, the court may assess against the defendant the value of any services provided and any costs or expenses incurred by a public body arising from or associated with a violation of this section.
(cf: P.L.1981, c.229, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill authorizes law enforcement agencies to close roadways to traffic, increases the penalty for a violation, and authorizes courts to assess costs against a defendant which resulted from a violation of the road closure.
Under current law, State highways may be ordered closed by the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation, county public roads may be ordered closed by a county governing body, and municipal streets or roads may be ordered closed by municipal governing bodies. During emergency situations when roadways require closure to prevent imminent harm to the public, State and local governing authorities may not be able to act as quickly as necessary to order the closures. This bill amends current law to extend the authority to law enforcement agencies, which have the capacity to act more swiftly in emergent circumstances.
Additionally, the bill increases the penalty to $250 per violation and provides the court with authority to assess costs incurred by a public body in connection with a violation of this section.
