New Jersey-2010-S1806-Introduced

An Act concerning special license plates for severely disabled veterans and supplementing chapter 3 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. As used in this act, "severely disabled veteran" means any citizen and resident of this State now or hereafter honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States who has been or shall be declared by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or its successor, to have a service-connected disability and that disability is certified by a physician with a plenary license to practice medicine and surgery; a podiatrist licensed to practice in this State or a bordering state; a physician stationed at a military or naval installation located in this State who is licensed to practice in any state or a bordering state, to involve (1) the loss of the use of one or more limbs as a consequence of paralysis, amputation, or other permanent disability; (2) the inability to ambulate without the aid of an assisting device or (3) some other limitation of mobility which would qualify that veteran for the special license plates authorized under P.L.1949, c.280 (C.39:4-204 et seq.).

b. The Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall, upon proper application therefor, issue Severely Disabled Veteran license plates for any motor vehicle owned or leased and registered in the State by a severely disabled veteran. In addition to the registration number and other markings or identification otherwise prescribed by law, the license plate shall display the words "Severely Disabled Veteran" and an appropriate symbol or emblem. The symbol or emblem shall be chosen by the chief administrator after consultation with representatives of organizations consisting of or representing the interests of disabled veterans. Issuance of Severely Disabled Veteran license plates in accordance with this section 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 a Severely Disabled Veteran license plate shall be made to the motor vehicle commission on forms and in a manner as may be prescribed by the chief administrator. In order to be deemed complete, an application shall be accompanied by a fee of $15 payable to the commission, which fee shall be in addition to all fees otherwise required by law for the registration of the motor vehicle.

d. A Severely Disabled Veteran license plate shall entitle the holder to all the benefits, privileges and considerations afforded the holders of license plates and placards under the provisions of P.L.1949, c.280 (C.39:4-204 et seq.).

e. A Severely Disabled Veteran license plate is not transferable and is issued exclusively for the use of the person to whom it is duly issued. The knowing misuse or abuse of any benefit, privilege or consideration granted the person to whom a Severely Disabled Veteran license plate is issued shall be sufficient cause for revocation of all those benefits, privileges and considerations and the forfeiture of the Severely Disabled Veteran license plate.

f. The chief administrator shall notify motorists of the availability of Severely Disabled Veteran 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 motor vehicle commission. The notices, posters, and signs shall be designed by the chief administrator.

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

STATEMENT

This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to issue Severely Disabled Veteran license plates.

In addition to honoring those veterans who have been severely disabled while serving their country, this plate would grant those severely disabled veterans all the benefits, privileges and considerations afforded the holders of handicapped license plates, most notably the privilege of legally parking in handicapped spaces.

These special plates would display words "Severely Disabled Veteran" and an emblem or symbol chosen by the chief administrator, after consulting with representatives of organizations consisting of or representing the interests of disabled veterans.

The fee for these special plates is set at $15, the same fee currently charged for Disabled Veteran license plates.

Finally, the bill specifies that these plates are not transferable and that they are issued 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 the person to whom a Severely Disabled Veteran license plate is issued shall be sufficient cause for revocation of all those benefits, privileges and considerations and the forfeiture of the Severely Disabled Veteran license plate.