STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Amato
SYNOPSIS
Establishes special license plates for honorably discharged veterans.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act providing for the issuance of special license plates to honorably discharged veterans and supplementing chapter 3 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Upon application of any person who is classified as a veteran, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1987, c.444 (C.38A:3-1.2) as evidenced by the applicants DD-214 form or on a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, and has been honorably discharged, the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall issue, for a motor vehicle owned or leased by the person, distinctive license plates of a design determined by the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs in consultation with the chief administrator. In addition to the registration number and other markings or identification prescribed by law, the license plates shall bear the word Veteran and designate, by name and insignia, the branch of the military in which the veteran served.
b. There shall be a fee of $15 to the applicant for these special plates in addition to the fees otherwise prescribed by law for the registration of motor vehicles. The chief administrator shall retain from the fees collected such sums as are necessary to defray all costs incurred by the commission in producing and issuing these special license plates.
c. The surviving spouse of a deceased veteran, who is eligible to operate a motor vehicle in this State under the provisions of R.S.39:3-10, may retain the special license plates obtained by the deceased spouse pursuant to this section for display on a motor vehicle owned or leased by the surviving spouse.
d. The chief administrator shall notify motorists of the opportunity to obtain these plates by including a notice with all registration renewals, and by posting appropriate posters or signs in all commission facilities and offices.
e. The chief administrator shall promulgate rules and regulations governing the issuance and use of these special license plates.
2. This act shall take effect on the 180th day following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (chief administrator) to issue special license plates to honorably discharged veterans.
The license plates are required to bear a design determined by the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the chief administrator, identifying the registrant as a veteran and designate, by name and insignia, the branch of the military in which the veteran served, in addition to other markings or identification otherwise prescribed by law. The bill requires a $15 application fee to obtain the special plates, in addition to the normal registration fee. The bill authorizes the chief administrator to promulgate rules and regulations governing the issuance and use of these plates.
The bill also allows surviving spouses of deceased veterans to retain the special license plates.