ASSEMBLY, No. 823
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
220th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2022 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman BRITNEE N. TIMBERLAKE
District 34 (Essex and Passaic)
Assemblyman PEDRO MEJIA
District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)
Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Atkins, Assemblywoman Haider, Assemblymen Webber, Torrissi, Assemblywomen Park, Matsikoudis, Lampitt and McKnight
SYNOPSIS
Requires NJTA and SJTA to check E-ZPass database before issuing E-ZPass violation.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee on March 10, 2022, with amendments.
An Act concerning certain electronic toll collection system processes 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.2021, c.251 (C.27:23-34.7), 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.2021, c.251, s.1)
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.2021, c.251 (C.27:25A-21.7), 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.2021, c.251, s.2)
3. (New section) Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority shall not issue a notice of violation or charge any administrative fees to the owner of a vehicle that travels through a lane at a toll plaza or facility dedicated for the electronic toll collection system unless the authority has first determined that the vehicle is not associated with an existing electronic toll collection system account. If the vehicle is associated with an existing electronic toll collection system account, the authority shall relay the license plate information to the lead agency of the electronic toll collection system for toll payment from the appropriate electronic toll collection system account holder, provided that the account holder shall have the right to dispute any such toll charge.
An electronic toll collection system account holder shall provide accurate and updated information for the electronic toll collection system accou