Sponsored by:
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Allows NJ E-ZPass customers to opt to receive electronic notification of use of E-ZPass system at toll plazas operated by NJTA and SJTA.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning notifications provided through certain electronic toll collection lanes and amending and supplementing P.L.1997, c.59.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 6 of P.L.1997, c.59 (C.27:23-34.1) is amended to read as follows:
6. As used in sections 6 through 10 of P.L.1997, c.59 (C.27:23-34.1 through C.27:23-34.5) and section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):
"Authority" means the New Jersey Turnpike Authority established by section 3 of P.L.1948, c.454 (C.27:23-3).
"Electronic toll collection system" means the electronic system employed or utilized by the authority to register and collect the toll required to be paid for a vehicle entering a toll plaza owned or operated by, or on behalf of, the authority.
"Lessee" means any person, corporation, firm, partnership, agency, association or organization that rents, leases or contracts for the use of a vehicle and has exclusive use of the vehicle for any period of time.
"Lessor" means any person, corporation, firm, partnership, agency, association or organization engaged in the business of renting or leasing vehicles to any lessee under a rental agreement, lease or other contract that provides the lessee with the exclusive use of the vehicle for any period of time.
"Operator" means the term "operator" as defined in R.S.39:1-1.
"Owner" means the term "owner" as defined in R.S.39:1-1.
"Toll collection monitoring system" means a vehicle sensor, placed in a location to work in conjunction with a toll collection facility, that produces one or more photographs, one or more microphotographs, a videotape or other recorded images, or a written record, of a vehicle at the time the vehicle is used or operated in a violation of the toll collection monitoring system regulations. The term shall also include any other process that identifies a vehicle by photographic, electronic or other method.
"Toll collection
monitoring system regulations" means the regulations authorized and
adopted pursuant to section 7 of P.L.1997, c.59 (C.27:23-34.2) that prohibit a
vehicle from making use of any project except upon the payment of such tolls as
may from time to time be prescribed by the authority and that further makes it
a violation subject to a civil penalty for any person to refuse to pay, to
evade, or to attempt to evade the payment of such tolls, if the violation is
recorded by a toll collection monitoring
system as defined in this section.
"Vehicle" means the term "vehicle" as defined in R.S.39:1-1.
(cf: P.L.2003, c.79, s.36)
2. Section 11 of P.L.1997, c.59 (C.27:25A-21.1) is amended to read as follows:
11. As used in sections 11 through 15 of P.L.1997, c.59 (C.27:25A-21.1 through C.27:25A-21.5) and section 4 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):
"Authority" means the South Jersey Transportation Authority established by section 4 of P.L.1991, c.252 (C.27:25A-4).
"Electronic toll collection system" means the electronic system employed or utilized by the authority to register and collect the toll required to be paid for a vehicle entering a toll plaza owned or operated by, or on behalf of, the authority.
"Lessee" means any person, corporation, firm, partnership, agency, association or organization that rents, leases or contracts for the use of a vehicle and has exclusive use of the vehicle for any period of time.
"Lessor" means any person, corporation, firm, partnership, agency, association or organization engaged in the business of renting or leasing vehicles to any lessee under a rental agreement, lease or other contract that provides the lessee with the exclusive use of the vehicle for any period of time.
"Operator" means the term "operator" as defined in R.S.39:1-1.
"Owner" means the term "owner" as defined in R.S.39:1-1.
"Toll collection monitoring system" means a vehicle sensor, placed in a location to work in conjunction with a toll collection facility, that produces one or more photographs, one or more microphotographs, a videotape or other recorded images, or a written record, of a vehicle at the time the vehicle is used or operated in a violation of the toll collection monitoring system regulations. The term shall also include any other process that identifies a vehicle by photographic, electronic or other method.
"Toll collection monitoring system regulations" means the regulations authorized and adopted pursuant to section 12 of P.L.1997, c.59 (C.27:25A-21.2) that prohibit a vehicle from making use of any project except upon the payment of such tolls as may from time to time be prescribed by the authority and that further makes it a violation subject to a civil penalty for any person to refuse to pay, to evade, or to attempt to evade the payment of such tolls, if the violation is recorded by a toll collection monitoring system as defined in this section.
"Vehicle" means the term "vehicle" as defined in R.S.39:1-1.
(cf: P.L.2003, c.79, s.46)
3. (New section) Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority shall transmit electronic notification pursuant to the provisions of this section to a customer that passes through a toll plaza operated by the authority, provided that the customer has an account for the electronic toll collection system that is registered with the New Jersey E-ZPass Customer Service Center or successor entity and voluntarily opts in for such notification. The notification shall alert the customer that the electronic toll collection system has registered the customer's account and may be provided by electronic mail, a text message sent directly to a customer's mobile device, or through a mobile application. Notification shall be made within 24 hours of the transaction posting to the customer's account, or as soon as practicable if no valid account is recognized at the time of the transaction. A customer may opt out of receiving the notification that is provided pursuant to the provisions of this section at any time and may be required to confirm participation in the notification program.
4. (New section) Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the South Jersey Transportation Authority shall transmit electronic notification pursuant to the provisions of this section to a customer that passes through a toll plaza operated by the authority, provided that the customer has an account for the electronic toll collection system that is registered with the New Jersey E-ZPass Customer Service Center or successor entity and voluntarily opts in for such notification. The notification shall alert the customer that the electronic toll collection system has registered the customer's account and may be provided by electronic mail, a text message sent directly to a customer's mobile device, or through a mobile application. Notification shall be made within 24 hours of the transaction posting to the customer's account, or as soon as practicable if no valid account is recognized at the time of the transaction. A customer may opt out of receiving the notification that is provided pursuant to the provisions of this section at any time and may be required to confirm participation in the notification program.
5. This act shall take effect immediately, but the provisions of sections 3 and 4 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall not be construed as affecting the terms of any contract or agreement in effect as of the effective date of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Authority (authorities) to transmit electronic notification to a customer that passes through a toll plaza operated by the authority, provided that the customer has an account for the electronic toll collection system that is registered with the New Jersey E-ZPass Customer Service Center and voluntarily opts in for such notification. The notification is required to be transmitted within 24 hours of the transaction posting to the customer's account. The notification may be provided by electronic mail, a text message sent directly to a customer's mobile device, or through a mobile application. The bill would apply to toll plazas on the State's three toll roads, the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, and the Atlantic City Expressway.