An effort in New Jersey to comply with federal truck rules has been signed into law. Two other new laws in the state toughen penalties for drunken drivers.
As one of his final acts as governor, Jon Corzine signed into law a bill making various changes to state law concerning commercial driver’s licenses to conform to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.
Previously S3091, the new law makes fines for violating out-of-service orders more straightforward. Instead of first offenders facing a fine ranging from $1,100 to $2,750, they would be responsible for paying $2,500 fines. Anyone who is caught twice or more would be on the hook for $5,000 and face the possibility of up to 90 days behind bars.
Motor carriers also face greater punishment. Employers convicted of knowingly allowing, requiring, permitting or authorizing a driver in OOS status to get behind the wheel would face up to $25,000 fines. Previously, the maximum fine was $11,000.
A separate provision in the new law institutes lifetime bans of CDL driving privileges for certain offenses.
In addition to beefing up the state’s penalties for truck driving offenses, the changes also preserve some of New Jersey’s federal highway funding. Non-compliance threatened to cost the state a 1 percent to 10 percent loss of those funds.
Two more bills to be signed into law are intended to make the state’s roadways a little safer by toughening penalties for driving under the influence.
The first bill – A3073 – increases the use of ignition interlock devices for drunken drivers.
Until now, New Jersey judges were given the option to require the use of ignition interlocks for first-time offenders for six months to a year after their license was restored. The devices are already required for repeat offenders for one to three years.
The new law, which took effect immediately, mandates ignition interlocks for first offenders whose blood alcohol content is at least 0.15 percent – nearly twice New Jersey’s 0.08 limit.
Also signed into law is a bill – A4303 – designed to crack down on motorists repeatedly caught driving under the influence or with a suspended license.
Senate President Richard Codey, D-Essex, said he was spurred to pursue the legislation after a Morris Township, NJ, crash in April 2009 that was caused by a man with 12 previous DUI convictions and 78 license suspensions.
Jail time would be mandatory for anyone caught driving under the influence while already suspended for a DUI or refusal to take a breath test. Convicted offenders would face six months to one year behind bars and up to a $10,000 fine.
To view other legislative activities of interest for New Jersey, click here.
– By Keith Goble, state legislative editor
Editor’s Note: Please share your thoughts with us about the legislation included in this story. Comments may be sent to statelegislativedesk@ooida.com.
