Bill Text: NJ S551 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Prohibits right on red turns at intersections with red light cameras; requires certain additional signage if red light camera is in safe corridor.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-14 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Transportation Committee [S551 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-S551-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2014 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Prohibits right on red turns at intersections with red light cameras; requires certain additional signage if red light camera is in safe corridor.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning intersections with traffic control signal monitoring systems, amending P.L.1993, c.332, and supplementing chapter 4 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1993, c.332 (C.39:4-203.5) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. For the purposes of [this act] P.L.1993, c.332 (C.39:4-203.5):
"Area of highway construction or repair" means that segment of any highway which is identified by properly posted traffic control devices or signs as undergoing construction, reconstruction, repair, or maintenance operation. An area of highway construction or repair shall consist of that area between the first traffic control device or sign informing motor vehicle operators of their approaching highway construction or repair and the last traffic control device or sign indicating all restrictions are removed and normal motor vehicle operations may resume.
"Highway" means any highway under the jurisdiction of the State Department of Transportation, a county, a municipality, or a toll road authority.
"Safe corridor" or "safe corridor area" means a segment of highway under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation which, based upon accident rates, fatalities, traffic volume, and other highway traffic safety criteria, is identified by the Commissioner of Transportation as a segment warranting designation as a "safe corridor."
"Toll road authority" means the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, the New Jersey Highway Authority, or the South Jersey Transportation Authority.
b. The fine for a motor vehicle offense embodied in the following sections of statutory law, when committed in an area of highway construction or repair, or when committed in a designated safe corridor, shall be double the amount specified by law:
Subsection b. of R.S.39:3-20;
R.S.39:4-52;
R.S.39:4-57;
R.S.39:4-71;
R.S.39:4-80;
R.S.39:4-81;
R.S.39:4-82;
R.S.39:4-83;
R.S.39:4-84;
R.S.39:4-85;
R.S.39:4-86;
R.S.39:4-88;
R.S.39:4-89;
R.S.39:4-90;
R.S.39:4-96;
R.S.39:4-97;
R.S.39:4-98;
R.S.39:4-99;
R.S.39:4-105;
R.S.39:4-115;
R.S.39:4-119;
R.S.39:4-122;
R.S.39:4-123;
R.S.39:4-124;
R.S.39:4-125;
R.S.39:4-127;
R.S.39:4-129;
R.S.39:4-144;
P.L.1955, c.217 (C.39:5C-1);
Section 48 of P.L.1951, c.23 (C.39:4-66.1);
Section 41 of P.L.1951, c.23 (C.39:4-82.1);
Section 51 of P.L.1951, c.23 (C.39:4-90.1);
Section 1 of P.L.2000, c.75 (C.39:4-97.2);
Section 6 of P.L.1997, c.415 (C.39:4-98.7);
Section 5 of P.L.1951, c.264 (C.27:23-29);
Section 18 of P.L.1952, c.16 (C.27:12B-18); and
Section 21 of P.L.1991, c.252 (C.27:25A-21).
When an area of highway construction or repair is within a safe corridor, the fine for a motor vehicle offense embodied in the preceding sections of statutory law shall be doubled only once. When a safe corridor is within an area of highway construction or repair, the fine for a motor vehicle offense embodied in the preceding sections of statutory law shall be doubled only once. Fines for violation of section 6 of P.L.1997, c.415 (C.39:4-98.7) in a safe corridor or an area of highway construction or repair shall be doubled only once. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the increase from the doubled fines imposed and collected in designated safe corridor areas shall be forwarded by the person to whom they are paid to the State Treasurer, who shall annually deposit those moneys in the "Highway Safety Fund" established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2003, c.131 (C.39:3-20.4).
c. (1) Signs designed in compliance with the specifications of the Department of Transportation or, if appropriate, the toll road authority having jurisdiction over the appropriate highway, shall be appropriately placed, by order of the Commissioner of Transportation, the appropriate local official, or the affected toll road authority, as the case may be, to notify drivers approaching:
(a) areas of highway construction or repair, or designated safe corridor areas, that the fines are doubled for motor vehicle offenses in those areas; and
(b) intersections with traffic control signal motoring systems in designated safe corridor areas that the fines are doubled for motor vehicle offenses. For the purposes of this section, "traffic control signal monitoring system" shall mean "traffic control signal monitoring system" as defined in section 2 of P.L.2007, c.348 (C.39:4-8.13), and upon the expiration of P.L.2007, c.348 (C.39:4-8.12 et seq.), shall mean any integrated system or device utilizing a camera and vehicle sensors which work in conjunction with a traffic control signal and is capable of producing images or video recordings of violations of a traffic control signal, or any other similar system or device capable of producing images or video recordings of violations of a traffic control signal, or any other system designed to be used to record violations of a traffic control signal as authorized by State law.
(2) In addition, all traffic control signs and devices erected or displayed by the State Department of Transportation, a county, a municipality, or a toll road authority within an area of highway construction or repair or safe corridor area shall conform to the uniform system specified in the most current "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways," prepared by the Federal Highway Administration in the United States Department of Transportation.
d. It shall not be a defense to the imposition of the fines authorized under the provisions of [this act] P.L.1993, c.332 (C.39:4-203.5) that a sign notifying drivers who are approaching highway construction or repair areas, or designated safe corridor areas, that fines are doubled for motor vehicle offenses in those areas was not posted, improperly posted, wrongfully removed or stolen, or that signs or devices were not placed in compliance with the most current "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways" as required pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection c. of this section.
e. The director shall include information concerning the penalties imposed pursuant to [this act] P.L.1993, c.332 (C.39:4-203.5) in any subsequent revision of the New Jersey Driver Manual and the New Jersey Motorist Guide.
f. Safe corridor areas shall be designated by traffic order issued pursuant to P.L.1998, c.28 (C.39:4-8.2 et seq.).
(cf: P.L.2003, c.131, s.1)
2. (New section) a. A driver shall not make a right turn upon a stop signal at any intersection where traffic is controlled by a traffic control signal and a traffic control signal monitoring system has been installed and is being utilized.
b. The Department of Transportation or any county or municipality having jurisdiction over an intersection at which traffic is controlled by a traffic control signal and a traffic control signal monitoring system has been installed and is being utilized, shall post a sign near the appropriate traffic control signal notifying drivers that a right turn upon a stop signal at the intersection is prohibited.
c. For the purposes of this section, "traffic control signal monitoring system" shall mean "traffic control signal monitoring system" shall mean "traffic control signal monitoring system" as defined in section 2 of P.L.2007, c.348 (C.39:4-8.13), and upon the expiration of P.L.2007, c.348 (C.39:4-8.12 et seq.), shall mean any integrated system or device utilizing a camera and vehicle sensors which work in conjunction with a traffic control signal and is capable of producing images or video recordings of violations of a traffic control signal, or any other similar system or device capable of producing images or video recordings of violations of a traffic control signal, or any other system designed to be used to record violations of a traffic control signal as authorized by State law.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill prohibits right turns on a red signal at intersections with traffic control signal monitoring systems ("red light cameras") and requires a sign to be posted near the traffic light indicating that such turns are prohibited. The bill further provides that additional signage is required at intersections in safe corridors with red light cameras notifying drivers that that the fine for a violation of the traffic light is double the amount otherwise specified by current law.
