Bill Text: NJ S2528 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Grants driving privileges to certain individuals without road test during COVID-19 public health emergency and state of emergency.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-06-08 - Reported from Senate Committee, 2nd Reading [S2528 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-S2528-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator STEPHEN M. SWEENEY
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
Senator ROBERT W. SINGER
District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Grants driving privileges to certain individuals without road test during COVID-19 public health emergency and state of emergency.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning temporary measures for granting driving privileges for certain persons during the COVID-19 public health emergency and state of emergency.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. During the public health emergency and state of emergency declared on March 9, 2020 by the Governor, pursuant to Executive Order No. 103 and extended, where applicable, by subsequent executive orders, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall waive the road test requirement for the granting of driving privileges if all of the following conditions exist:
(1) the commission is not offering road tests for applicants for a driver's license;
(2) the applicant is 17 years of age or older;
(3) (a) for applicants who are 17 years of age, the applicant has completed at least 40 hours of supervised driving as certified by the signature of a parent or guardian who is at least 21 years of age, has been licensed to drive in the State for not less than three years, and has supervised the applicant's driving during the applicant's permit period;
(b) for applicants who are over the age of 17 but under the age of 21, the applicant has completed at least 40 hours of supervised driving as certified by the signature of an adult who is at least 21 years of age, has been licensed to drive in the State for not less than three years, and has supervised the applicant's driving during the applicant's permit period, and
(c) for applicants who are 21 years of age or older, the applicant has completed as least 20 hours of supervised driving as certified by the signature of an adult who is at least 21 years of age, has been licensed to drive in the State for not less than three years, and has supervised the applicant's driving during the applicant's permit period;
(4) the applicant did not have any reportable accidents during the applicant's permit period; and
(5) the applicant was not cited for any moving violations during the applicant's permit period.
b. The commission shall electronically issue a printable form to any applicant who meets the criteria established in subsection a. of this section that indicates that the person is authorized to operate a motor vehicle on the roadways of this State, provided that the holder of such a form shall be bound by any restrictions that would otherwise be applicable to the holder of a probationary driver's license. The applicant shall carry the form with the applicant's permit at all times while operating a motor vehicle. The commission shall update its records to indicate that the holder of a form issued pursuant to this subsection is authorized to operate a motor vehicle, subject to the restrictions applicable to a holder of a probationary driver's license.
c. If the commission opens its locations or agencies throughout the State and begins to offer road tests for driver's licenses, the applicant shall visit a commission location or agency to replace the form with an official driver's license, at a time and in a manner determined by the commission, subject to all requirements for renewal of a driver's license.
2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire: upon rescission by the Governor of Executive Order No. 103 of 2020 and any subsequent executive orders extending the public health emergency; or, in the absence of a rescission by the Governor, upon the termination in any other manner of the declared state of emergency and public health emergency.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to grant driving privileges to individuals during the State's ongoing public health emergency and state of emergency without the need to take a road test. The MVC is required to grant these driving privileges if all of the following circumstances exist: the MVC is not offering road tests for applicants for a driver's license; the applicant is at least 17 years old; applicants under the age of 21 have completed at least 40 hours of supervised driving or applicants 21 years of age and over have completed at least 20 hours of supervised driving; the applicant did not have any reportable accidents during the permit period; and the applicant was not cited for any moving violations during the permit period.
The MVC is to electronically issue a form to each eligible applicant that indicates that the individual is authorized to operate a motor vehicle in the State, subject to the restrictions of a probationary driver's license. The applicant is required to carry this form, along with the applicant's permit, at all times when operating a motor vehicle. The MVC is required to update its records to indicate that the person is authorized to drive and is subject to the restrictions applicable to a holder of a probationary driver's license.
If the MVC opens its locations and begins offering road tests, the applicant is required to visit an MVC location to replace the form with an official driver's license, at a time and in a manner determined by the MVC, subject to all requirements for renewal of a driver's license.
