Revises penalties for certain violations of limousine laws, the official text

ASSEMBLY, No. 1552

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman CLINTON CALABRESE

District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblywoman LINDA S. CARTER

District 22 (Somerset and Union)

Assemblyman MICHAEL INGANAMORT

District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Sampson

SYNOPSIS

Revises penalties for certain violations of limousine
laws.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.

An Act concerning limousines and amending P.L.1999, c.356.

Be It
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

1.    Section 18
of P.L.1999, c.356 (C.39:5G-1) is amended to read as follows:

18. a.  A person who
shall own and operate a limousine in any street in this State in violation of
the provisions of article 2 of chapter 16 of Title 48 of the Revised Statutes
or of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes shall be subject to the following
penalties:

[a.] (1) [For] for operating a limousine
without a license issued by a municipality pursuant to R.S.48:16-17, knowingly
permitting a driver to operate a limousine without a validly issued driver's
license or a validly issued commercial driver license if required pursuant to
N.J.A.C.13:21-23.1, failure to have filed an insurance policy in the amount of
$1,500,000 which is currently in force as provided in R.S.48:16-14 or in the
amounts required pursuant to section 14 of P.L.1999, c.356 (C.48:16-22.4),
operating a limousine in which the number of passengers exceeds the maximum
seating capacity as provided in R.S.48:16-13 or section 2 of P.L.1997, c.356
(C.48:16-13.1):  a fine of $2,500 for the first offense [and] ; a
fine of [$5000] $5,000
for the second [or
subsequent]
offense; and a fine of $7,500, the immediate suspension of the violator’s
driver’s license for a period of at least six months, and the immediate
impoundment of the vehicle operated in violation of this paragraph for the
third and any subsequent offense;

(2)   [For] for operating
a limousine without the special registration plates required pursuant to
section 12 of P.L.1979, c.224 (C.39:3-19.5), or operating a limousine without
the limousine being properly inspected as provided in R.S.39:8-1:  a fine of
$1,250 for the first offense [and] ; a
fine of $2,500 for the second [or
subsequent]
offense; and a fine of $7,500 and the immediate impoundment of the vehicle
operated in violation of this paragraph for the third and any subsequent
offense;

(3)   [For] for operating
a limousine without the attached sideboards required by section 11 of P.L.1999,
c.356 (C.48:16-22.1), failure to retain within the limousine appropriate proof
of insurance pursuant to R.S.48:16-17, or failure to execute and deliver
to the chief administrator the power of attorney required pursuant to
R.S.48:16-16:  a fine of $250 for the first offense; and a fine of
$500 for the second and subsequent offense; and

(4)   [For] for failure
to be equipped with a two-way communications system, a removable first-aid kit,
and an operable fire extinguisher, as required by section 11 of
P.L.1999, c.356 (C.48:16-22.1), or any other violation of the provisions of
article 2 of chapter 16 of Title 48 of the Revised Statutes other than those
enumerated in this subsection:  a fine of $50 for the first offense; and
a fine of $100 for the second and subsequent offense.

b.    Violations of this
section shall be enforced and penalties collected in a summary proceeding
pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274
(C.2A:58-10 et seq.).  The Superior Court or any municipal court where the
violation was detected, or where the defendant was apprehended, shall have
jurisdiction to enforce this section.  Penalties imposed pursuant to this
section shall be in addition to those otherwise imposed according to law.  All
penalties collected pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be
forwarded as provided in R.S.39:5-40 and subsection b. of R.S.39:5-41.

c.     State Police officers
may enter the property of the operator of a limousine service to conduct an
inspection of documents and vehicles upon probable cause that the operator is
violating R.S.48:16-14, R.S.48:16-17, R.S.48:16-22, section 11 of P.L.1999, c.356
(C.48:16-22.1), section 14 of P.L.1999, c.356 (C.48:16-22.4), or section 12 of
P.L.1979, c.224 (C.39:3-19.5).

(cf:  P.L.2009, c.325, s.1)

2.    This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill amends current law
to add additional penalties for certain limousine law violations.

Specifically the bill
increases the penalties to a fine of $7,500, the suspension of the violator’s
driver’s license for six months, and the impoundment of the violator’s vehicle for
the third and any subsequent offense of:  (1) operating a limousine without a
license issued by a municipality; (2) knowingly permitting a driver to operate
a limousine without a validly issued driver's license or a validly issued
commercial driver license; (3) failing to have filed an insurance policy in the
amount of $1.5 million on in certain other amounts as required by current law;
or (4) operating a limousine in which the number of passengers exceeds the
maximum seating capacity.

The bill also establishes a
fine of $7,500 and the impoundment of the violator’s vehicle for the third and
any subsequent offense of:  (1) operating a limousine without special
registration plates; or (2) operating a limousine that was not properly
inspected.