Sponsored by:
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes defense to illegally parking in permit areas at train stations.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning permit parking at train stations and supplementing P.L.1985, c.14 (C.39:4-139.2 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There shall be a permissive inference that a vacant permit parking space normally reserved for New Jersey Transit train passengers is available for general public use during off-peak times. An individual may raise this inference as a defense when contesting a citation for parking in a permit parking space during off-peak times.
b. For the purposes of this act:
"Off-peak times" means the hours from 5:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. during the weekdays, and all day on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
"Permit parking space" means a parking space reserved for the use of individuals who, in exchange for a fee, are assured a parking space within the designated permit parking area in close vicinity to a commuter railroad train operated by the New Jersey Transit Corporation.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill creates a permissive inference that a vacant permit parking space at a train station operated by the New Jersey Transit Corporation is available for general public use during off-peak times. An individual may raise this inference as a defense when contesting a citation for parking in a permit parking space during off-peak times.
The bill defines off-peak times as the hours from 5:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. on weekdays and all day on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
According to the sponsor, the purpose of this bill is to remedy the dilemma of overcrowded parking at train stations operated by the New Jersey Transit Corporation. In many cases, during off-peak times non-permit parking areas are at full capacity while the permit parking areas remain empty. As a result, individuals who do not have parking permits are forced to park in permit-only parking areas and thus, receive a citation.