Assembly Democrats

BILL REQUIRING PROMPT VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS BY NEW STATE RESIDENTS CLEARS COMMITTEE

(TRENTON) - The Assembly Transportation and Public Works Committee today released legislation sponsored by Assemblymen Douglas H. Fisher, Brian P. Stack, Nelson T. Albano, Jeff Van Drew, and John J. Burzichelli that would require all new New Jersey residents to register their motor vehicles with the state Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) within 60 days of becoming a resident of the state.ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS
NEWS RELEASE

FOR RELEASE:
January 22, 2007

CONTACT:
Assemblyman Fisher
(856) 455-1011
Assemblyman Albano
(609) 465-0700
Assemblyman Van Drew
(609) 465-0700
Assemblyman Burzichelli
(856) 251-9801
James Sverapa IV
(609) 292-7065

BILL REQUIRING PROMPT VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS BY NEW STATE RESIDENTS CLEARS COMMITTEE

(TRENTON) - The Assembly Transportation and Public Works Committee today released legislation sponsored by Assemblymen Douglas H. Fisher, Brian P. Stack, Nelson T. Albano, Jeff Van Drew, and John J. Burzichelli that would require all new New Jersey residents to register their motor vehicles with the state Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) within 60 days of becoming a resident of the state.

The bill is intended to help address card abandonment after auto accidents that have plagued Bridgeton and other small cities around the state with large concentrations of illegal aliens.

"It's a simple thing really," said Fisher (D-Cumberland). "If you live in New Jersey and you drive in New Jersey, you should be required to register your car in New Jersey. End of story."

Current law requires residents of the state - and nonresidents whose vehicles are driven in the state - to register their vehicles before taking them out on New Jersey's roadways. However, current law extends "touring privileges" to new residents whose vehicles remain registered in another state, a provision that amounts to grace time to switch registration to New Jersey.

Many people who move to New Jersey or drive in the state maintain their former registrations because the insurance requirements and driving record restrictions are much more relaxed. It also is easier for illegal aliens to register vehicles in other states - Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Wisconsin topping the list. Registering in another state allows these individuals to drive with lapsed or no insurance and no clear way for police to identify their primary residence if they are in an accident or stopped for a traffic violation.

"When someone stopped in New Jersey has an out-of-state license from one state and an out-of-state registration from another state, it becomes extremely difficult for police to know at what address, if any, the person actually resides," said Van Drew (D-Cape May). "This further complicates filing of insurance claims, sending court summonses, and generally makes the process of resolving an accident or traffic stop that much harder."

The legislation (A-3372) would expressly require new New Jersey residents to register their vehicles with MVC within 60 days of becoming a resident of the state. Violators would face fines of up to $250 for a first offense and up to $500 for second and subsequent offenses. Violators also would have their vehicles impounded for at least 96 hours for third and subsequent offenses. Any fines and fees resulting from violations would be payable to the county or municipality in which the violation occurred, except in cases where the driver was stopped by a state trooper.

"Anyone who's ever been involved in a car accident knows how unsettling and unnerving the process can be," said Albano (D-Cumberland). "And it's only compounded when one of the drivers - who lives in New Jersey - is licensed in one state, insured in another, and registered in a third. Requiring mandatory New Jersey registrations for state residents will help to resolve these situations more quickly and easily."

"Mandating new residents to register their vehicles with the state in a timely fashion will also help to ensure that every New Jersey resident on the road has auto insurance," said Burzichelli (D-Gloucester). "Doing that will help cut down on insurance fraud and abuse, which, in turn, will help keep insurance premiums low."

The committee released the legislation 11 to 0. It now heads to the Assembly Speaker, who decides if and when to post it for a floor vote.

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