LEGISLATION

The South Jersey Traffic Safety Alliance takes an active part in the legislative process.  Members and the public may present items for the Alliance to review and vote on, as long as they are traffic safety related. 

To view the state's pending legislation go to www.njleg.state.nj.us.

2004 Enacted Laws

Effective August 1
the driver of a non-emergency vehicle upon a highway shall yield the right of way to any bus, provided that: 

(1) the driver is operating a vehicle that is in a position to overtake the bus from its rear; and

(2) The bus, after exiting an active traffic lane for the purpose of stopping to receive or discharge passenger is attempting to reenter the lane from which it exited and to reenter the traffic lane occupied by the driver by signaling its intention to do so.  No other lane changes shall be applicable.

This is a $82.00 fine.  

Effective July 9
intersections with non-operational traffic control signals are to be treated as stop intersections.  

This fine is $66.00.

Effective July 1

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Effective July 1
Merit Rating Plan Surcharge of $250 for unsafe driving.  View full bill

June 21

Keeping name private can be a crime, court rules

The Supreme Court ruled that police may briefly detain someone on reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing, without the stronger standard probable cause, to get more information.  During such brief detentions, known as Terry stops after the 1968 ruling, people must answer questions about their identities.  

Effective June 9
Failure to produce an insurance identification card or other form of satisfactory proof insurance within 24 hours from the time of a citation will result in the issuance of a warrent for the immediate impoundment of the vehicle.  

The municipality may sell the motor vehicle at a public auction if the registrant fails to claim the motor vehicle impounded and pay the reasonable costs of removal and storage by midnight of the 30th day following impoundment, along with a $100 fine, and after a hearing.  

Effective January 20
Florence's Law- provides that a person who operates a motor vehicle or permits another to do so with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of at least .08% is guilty of drunk driving.  

Michael's Law - ensures that third or subsequent offenders of the drunk driving laws will be sentenced to a jail term of not less than 180 days in the county jail or work house.   

This amendment eliminates the option of substituting 90 days of community service for 90 days of jail time but provides that the court may reduce the term of imprisonment for each day, up to a total of 90 days, that the person participates in an alcohol impatient rehabilitation program approved by the IDRC.