Sponsored by:
Senator KRISTIN M. CORRADO
District 40 (Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic)
Senator PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.
District 18 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Qualifies certain disabled veterans for toll rate exemptions and exemptions from motor vehicle registration fees.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act qualifying certain disabled veterans for toll rate exemptions and exemptions from motor vehicle registration fees, amending P.L.1948, c.28, 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 2 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. (New section) Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority shall not charge a toll to any customer with an account with the electronic toll collection system, subject to sections 6 through 10 of P.L.1997, c.59 (C.27:23-34.1 through C.27:23-34.5), and who is exempt from the payment of motor vehicle registration fees pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1948, c.28 (C.39:3-27.1), on any toll facility operated by the authority.
3. 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)
4. (New section) Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the South Jersey Transportation Authority shall not charge a toll to any customer with an account with the electronic toll collection system, subject to sections 11 through 15 of P.L.1997, c.59 (C.27:25A-21.1 through C.27:25A-21.5), and who is exempt from the payment of motor vehicle registration fees pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1948, c.28 (C.39:3-27.1), on any toll facility operated by the authority.
5. Section 1 of P.L.1948, c.28 (C.39:3-27.1) is amended to read as follows:
1. No fee shall be charged for the registration, in any year or years, of one motor vehicle of passenger type, which is not to be used for hire, owned by any resident of the State of New Jersey, individually or jointly with a spouse[;] :
(1) who is eligible for compensation pursuant to [R.S. 38:18-1, 38:18-2 and 38:18-3,]