Acting Gov. Richard Codey has signed a bill into law extending to one year the registration period for commercial vehicles in New Jersey . The bill – A3365 – previously swept through the Legislature by unanimous consent.

Until now, state law required CMVs to be registered every 11 months. Most other motor vehicles in the state must be registered once a year.

“There is no common sense reason why commercial vehicles cannot be registered for a full year, just like almost any other motor vehicle in New Jersey,” Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan Jr., D-South Plainfield, said in a written statement.

Assemblyman Peter Barnes Jr., D-Edison, said truck drivers have other more important issues to keep track of.

“Many of the commercial vehicles registered in New Jersey belong to small businesses concerned with their day-to-day survival, not whether this is the month their vehicle registration expires,” Barnes said.

The new rule takes effect in February 2006.