Bill Text: NJ S2948 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires handicapped parking signs to include non-emergency law enforcement contact number.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-09-17 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Transportation Committee [S2948 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-S2948-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator DECLAN J. O'SCANLON, JR.
District 13 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Requires handicapped parking signs to include non-emergency law enforcement contact number.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning handicapped parking signs and amending R.S.39:4-198.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. R.S.39:4-198 is amended to read as follows:
39:4-198. No ordinance, resolution, or regulation enacted, passed, or adopted by local authorities nor any regulation adopted by the Commissioner of Transportation under any power given by this chapter or any supplement thereto shall be effective unless due notice thereof is given to the public by placing a sign at the places where the ordinance, resolution, or regulation is effective, and by briefing its provisions on signs according to specifications contained in this chapter or as specified by the current Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for streets and highways. These signs shall be so placed as to be easily read by pedestrians or operators of vehicles. Except, in the case of "No Passing" zones, in lieu of or in addition to signs, notice shall be given to the public by highway pavement markings which conform to the current Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for streets and highways.
In addition to the specifications in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, any sign erected after the effective date of P.L.1989, c.201 to notify the public that parking in a space is reserved for persons with disabilities shall also state the penalties set forth in paragraph c. of subsection (3) of R.S.39:4-197 which may be imposed for a violation. Signs which were erected prior to the effective date shall be modified within 12 months after the effective date to include the penalty information. Any sign erected after the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill) to notify the public that parking in a space is reserved for persons with disabilities shall also provide a non-emergency phone number that can be used by the public to notify appropriate law enforcement entities that a space reserved for persons with disabilities is occupied by a vehicle without a valid windshield placard or wheelchair symbol license plates issued pursuant to P.L.1949, c.280 (C.39:4-204 et seq.). Signs erected prior to the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall be modified within 12 months after the effective date to include the non-emergency phone number.
It shall not be a defense to the unauthorized use of a parking space reserved for persons with disabilities pursuant to R.S.39:4-138 that the penalties set forth in paragraph c. of subsection (3) of R.S.39:4-197 were not posted or were improperly posted.
(cf: P.L.2017, c.131, s.165)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires new signs marking handicapped parking spaces to include a phone number for local non-emergency law enforcement that members of the public can use to report vehicles parked in handicapped spaces that do not have handicapped parking placards or wheelchair license plates visibly displayed. The bill also requires spaces erected prior to the enactment of this bill to be modified to include the non-emergency law enforcement phone number within 12 months of the effective date of this bill.
