This bill amends existing laws regarding the accessibility of motor vehicle accident reports, establishing a 90-day waiting period before such reports can be made available to the general public. Under the current law, certain information from accident reports is accessible to insurers within 24 hours of the incident. The new provisions stipulate that, except for specific authorized individuals and entities, no state or local law enforcement agency, including the New Jersey State Police, shall release accident reports or any information contained within them until 90 days have passed since the accident. Exceptions to this rule include investigators and claim representatives from insurance companies, vehicle owners or passengers listed in the report, law enforcement employees investigating insurance fraud, and individuals claiming personal injury or property damage from the accident.

Additionally, the bill modifies the requirements for accident report forms prepared by the Motor Vehicle Commission, ensuring they contain detailed information about the accident. It clarifies that reports are not considered privileged or confidential, but they will not be available to the public until after the 90-day period, with the same exceptions noted earlier. The bill also defines "authorized representative" to include licensed attorneys acting on behalf of affected individuals and next of kin of those who have died or been incapacitated due to the accident. Overall, the legislation aims to balance the need for timely access to accident information for certain parties while protecting the privacy of individuals involved in the accidents for a specified period.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 17:33A-29