This bill amends N.J.S.2C:29-3 to establish that a person can be guilty of hindering their own apprehension or prosecution by withholding or refusing to provide valid identification or true identity when requested by a law enforcement officer upon arrest. The bill specifies that this act of withholding identification is considered a method of hindering apprehension, alongside existing methods such as suppressing evidence, obstructing others from aiding in discovery or apprehension, preventing witnesses from testifying, and providing false information to law enforcement.

The penalties for this offense align with those for giving false information, which can range from a third-degree crime (punishable by three to five years imprisonment and fines up to $15,000) if the underlying charge is a crime of the first or second degree, to a fourth-degree crime (up to 18 months imprisonment and fines up to $10,000) for third-degree conduct, or a disorderly persons offense (up to six months imprisonment and fines up to $1,000) for lesser offenses. The bill aims to strengthen the legal framework surrounding hindering apprehension and prosecution, particularly in cases related to motor vehicle and insurance fraud violations.