This bill amends New Jersey's implied consent law to include blood testing for the detection of alcohol and certain controlled substances, specifically marijuana. It establishes a per se standard for determining impairment due to marijuana, defining it as having three nanograms or more of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per milliliter of blood. Additionally, the bill specifies that any amount of a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance or certain Schedule II or III substances in a person's blood, which have not been medically prescribed, will also indicate impairment. The legislation aims to enhance road safety by expanding the scope of testing and establishing clearer standards for drug-related impairment.

Moreover, the bill revises penalties for operating a vehicle under the influence of intoxicating substances, maintaining existing fines for blood alcohol concentration levels while introducing new provisions for those under the influence of narcotics or hallucinogenic drugs. It includes a requirement for individuals convicted of such offenses to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicles. The bill also enforces penalties for refusing blood tests, aligning them with those for refusing breath tests related to drunk driving. Overall, this legislative change seeks to hold drivers accountable for operating vehicles under the influence of a broader range of substances, thereby improving road safety.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39:4-50.2