Requires passenger vehicles to undergo safety inspection for equipment and credentials that affect safe operation of vehicle.

A1145

ASSEMBLY, No. 1145

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman JOE DANIELSEN

District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)

Assemblyman CLINTON CALABRESE

District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires passenger vehicles to undergo safety
inspection for equipment and credentials that affect safe operation of vehicle.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.

��

An Act
concerning the inspection of certain motor vehicles and
amending
various sections of the Revised Statutes
.

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

���� 1.� R.S.39:8-1 is amended to
read as follows:

���� 39:8-1.� a.�
(1)
� Every
motor vehicle registered in this State which is used over any public road,
street, or highway or any public or quasi-public property in this State, and
every vehicle subject to enhanced inspection and maintenance programs pursuant
to 40 C.F.R. s.51.356, except motorcycles, historic motor vehicles registered
as such, collector motor vehicles designated as such pursuant to this
subsection, and those vehicles over 8,500 pounds gross weight that are under
the inspection jurisdiction of the commission pursuant to Titles 27 and 48 of
the Revised Statutes, shall be inspected by designated inspectors or at
official inspection facilities to be designated by the commission or at
licensed private inspection facilities.�
[
Passenger
]

In
addition to the safety inspections required pursuant to paragraph (2) of this
subsection, passenger
automobiles registered in accordance with R.S.39:3-4
or R.S.39:3-27 and noncommercial trucks registered in accordance with section 2
of P.L.1968, c.439 (C.39:3-8.1) or R.S.39:3-27 inspected pursuant to this
section shall only be inspected for emissions and emission-related items such
as emission control equipment and on-board diagnostics.� The commission shall
adopt rules and regulations establishing a procedure for the designation of
motor vehicles as collector motor vehicles, which designation shall include
consideration by the commission of one or more of the following factors: the
age of the vehicle, the number of such vehicles originally manufactured, the
number of such vehicles that are currently in use, the total number of miles
the vehicle has been driven, the number of miles the vehicle has been driven
during the previous year or other period of time determined by the commission,
and whether the vehicle has a collector classification for insurance purposes.

����
(2)� Passenger automobiles
registered in accordance with R.S.39:3-4 or R.S.39:3-27 and noncommercial
trucks registered in accordance with section 2 of P.L.1968, c.439 (C.39:3-8.1)
or R.S.39:3-27 inspected pursuant to this section shall undergo a safety inspection
by a designated inspector, at an official inspection facility designated by the
commission, or at a licensed private inspection facility.� The safety
inspection shall include an evaluation for the presence and function of the
following equipment within the motor vehicle and proof of the following
credentials for the owner or operator of the motor vehicle:

����
(a) a horn, as required
pursuant to R.S.39:3-69;

����
(b) stoplights, as required
pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2013, c.230 (C.39:3-66.3);

����
(c) headlamps, tail lamps,
and turn signals, as required pursuant to R.S.39:3-61;

����
(d) a windshield and
windshield wipers, as required pursuant to R.S.39:3-75 and R.S.39:3-74;

����
(e) rear view mirrors, as
required pursuant to R.S.39:3-71;

����
(f) tires, as required
pursuant to R.S.39:3-72;

����
(g) seatbelts, as required
pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1999, c.308 (C.39:3-76.2);

����
(h) a valid driver�s
license for the owner or operator of the motor vehicle, as issued pursuant to
R.S.39:3-10;

����
(i) a valid registration
certificate, as issued pursuant to

R.S.39:3-4;

����
(j) an active vehicle
insurance policy, as required pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1972, c.197
(C.39:6B-1); and

����
(k) any other equipment or
credentials that the commission deems appropriate for the safe operation of the
motor vehicle.

���� b.��� The commission shall
determine the official inspection facility or private inspection facility at
which a motor vehicle, depending upon its characteristics, shall be inspected.�
The commission, with the concurrence of the Department of Environmental Protection,
may exclude by regulation from this inspection requirement any category of
motor vehicle if good cause for such exclusion exists, unless the exclusion is
likely to prevent this State from meeting the applicable performance standard
established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The
commission may determine that a vehicle is in compliance with the inspection
requirements of this section if the vehicle has been inspected and passed under
a similar inspection program of another state, district, or territory of the
United States.

(cf: P.L.2010, c.29, s.1)

���� 2.� R.S.39:8-3 is amended to
read as follows:

���� 39:8-3.� a. No certificate of
approval shall be issued by an examiner, official inspection facility
,

or private inspection facility until the motor vehicle inspected successfully
passes inspections for emissions and emission-related items such as emission
control equipment and on-board diagnostics required by the chief administrator
and the mechanism, brakes and equipment of the motor vehicle inspected have
been found to be in a proper and safe condition and complying with the laws of
this State.

���� b.��� Notwithstanding
subsection a. of this section,
no certificate of approval shall be issued by
an examiner, official inspection facility, or private inspection facility for a

passenger
[
automobiles
]

automobile

registered in accordance with R.S.39:3-4 or R.S.39:3-27
[
and
]

or a

noncommercial
[
trucks
]

truck

registered in accordance with section 2 of P.L.1968, c.439 (C.39:3-8.1) or
R.S.39:3-27 that
[
are
only inspected
]

until the motor vehicle inspected successfully passes inspections
for
emissions and emission-related items such as emission control equipment and
on-board diagnostics pursuant to R.S.39:8-1
[
and
that successfully pass such inspections shall be issued a certificate of
approval
]

, as well as the safety inspections required pursuant to paragraph (2) of
subsection a. of R.S.39:8-1
.

���� c.���� Notwithstanding the
issuance or non-issuance of a certificate of approval, the obligation to ensure
that a vehicle is in a proper and safe condition rests with the owner, operator
or lessee, as appropriate, of the vehicle.

(cf: P.L.2010, c.29, s.3)

���� 3.� R.S.39:3-61 is amended to
read as follows:

���� 39:3-61.�
[
(a)
]

a.
�
Every motor vehicle other than a motor cycle and other than a motor-drawn
vehicle shall be equipped on the front with at least two headlamps, an equal
number at each side, and with two turn signals, one on each side; and on the
rear with two tail lamps, two or more stop lamps, as prescribed by section 2 of
P.L.2013, c.230 (C.39:3-66.3), two turn signals, and two reflectors, one of
each at each side; except that a passenger vehicle manufactured before July 2,
1954, and registered in this State may be equipped with one stop lamp, one
reflector, and one tail lamp and is not required to be equipped with turn
signals.� In addition, every motor vehicle shall be equipped with adequate
license plate illumination, and with one or more lamps capable of providing
parking light as required in R.S.39:3-62.� Turn signals are not required on the
rear of a truck tractor equipped with double-faced turn signals on or near the
front and so constructed and located as to be visible to passing drivers.

����
[
(b)
]

b.
� Every truck tractor
manufactured after January 1, 1965, shall be equipped on the front with two
clearance lamps, one at each side, and three identification lamps, which shall
be in addition to the lamps provided for in paragraph (a) of this section.� Where
the cab is not more than 42 inches wide at the front roof line, a single lamp
at the center of the cab shall be deemed to comply with the requirement for
front identification lamps. Reflectors required on the rear of a truck tractor
may be located on the rear of the cab, one at each side.

����
[
(c)
]

c.
� Every truck 80 inches
or more in over-all width except a dump truck and except a truck 80 inches or
more in over-all width which is not in excess of 25 feet in over-all length and
manufactured prior to January 1, 1965, shall be equipped with the following lamps
and reflectors in addition to those provided for in paragraph (a) of this
section;

���� On the front, two clearance
lamps, one at each side, and three identification lamps except that where the
cab is not more than 42 inches wide at the front roof line, a single lamp at
the center of the cab shall be deemed to comply with the requirement for front
identification lamps;

���� On the rear, two clearance
lamps, one at each side, and three identification lamps;

���� On each side, one side-marker
lamp and one reflector at or near the front, and one side-marker lamp and one
reflector at or near the rear.

����
[
(d)
]

d.
� Every trailer or
semitrailer shall be equipped on the rear with two tail lamps, two stop lamps,
two turn signals, and two reflectors, one of each at each side, and with
adequate license plate illumination.

����
[
(e)
]

e.
� Every trailer or
semitrailer 80 inches or more in over-all width, except a dump truck trailer, a
dump truck semitrailer, or a converter dolly, shall be equipped with the
following lamps and reflectors in addition to those provided for in paragraph
(d) of this section:

���� On the front, two clearance
lamps, one at each side;

���� On the rear, two clearance
lamps, one at each side, and except with respect to cable reel trailers, three
identification lamps;

���� On each side, one side-marker
lamp and one reflector at or near the front, and one side-marker lamp and one
reflector at or near the rear; and on any trailer or semi-trailer vehicle 30
feet or more in length, at least one additional side-marker lamp at optional
height and at least one additional reflector, the additional lamp or lamps and
reflector or reflectors to be at or near the center or at approximately uniform
spacing in the length of the vehicle.

����
[
(f)
]

f.
� Every pole trailer
shall be equipped as follows:

���� On the rear, two tail lamps,
one at each side; two stop lamps, one at each side; two turn signals, one at
each side; two reflectors, one at each side, placed to indicate extreme width
of the pole trailer; three identification lamps mounted on the vertical center
line of the pole trailer or in lieu thereof mounted on the vertical center line
of the rear of the cab of the truck tractor drawing the pole trailer and higher
than the load being transported.

���� On each side, one amber
side-marker lamp at or near the front of the load; one amber reflector at or
near the front of the load; on the rearmost support for the load, one
combination marker lamp showing amber to the front and red to the rear and
side, mounted to indicate maximum width of the pole trailer; on the rearmost
support for the load, one red reflector.

���� Nothing in this subsection
shall apply to a single axle, skeleton frame trailer, not exceeding 2,500
pounds net weight and not exceeding 80 inches in over-all width which is
designed to transport poles and is owned by a public utility as defined in
R.S.48:2-13 except that such vehicles shall be required to have on the rear,
two tail lamps, one at each side; stop lamps, one at each side; two turn
signals, one at each side; two reflectors, one at each side on each side; and
one amber side-marker lamp at or near the front of the load.

����
[
(g)
]

g.
� Every converter dolly
not permanently attached to a semitrailer shall be equipped on the rear with
one stop lamp, one tail lamp, two reflectors, one at each side, and adequate
license plate illumination. These lamps need be lighted only when the converter
dolly is being towed singly by another vehicle. A "converter dolly"
is a vehicle with a fifth wheel lower half or equivalent mechanism, the
attachment of which converts a semitrailer to a trailer.

����
[
(h)
]

h.
� Every motor cycle
shall be equipped with at least one and not more than two headlamps, one tail
lamp, one stop lamp, at least one reflector on the rear, adequate license plate
illumination and, if a side car or any other extension is attached to the side
thereof, one lamp located on the outside limit of the attachment capable of
displaying white light to the front.

����
[
(i)
]

i.
�
[
Required
]

All

lamps and reflectors
required under this section
shall be
operational
and
of a type approved by the chief administrator.�
[
Turn
]

All turn

signals
required under this section
shall be
operational and shall be

Class A Type 1 lamps except that on passenger cars, and on commercial vehicles
less than 80 inches in over-all width they may be Class B lamps.� Reflectors
shall be Class A reflex reflectors except that on passenger cars they may be
Class B reflex reflectors.

����
[
(j)
]

j.
� Required headlamps,
tail lamps, clearance lamps, identification lamps, and side-marker lamps shall
be lighted and adequate license plate illumination displayed whenever the
vehicle other than a converter dolly is upon a highway when lighted lamps are
required except when parked and exhibiting lights as provided for in
R.S.39:3-62 or when stopped and displaying emergency warning lights or devices
as provided for in R.S.39:3-64 or R.S.39:3-54.� Lamps on a converter dolly
shall be lighted as provided for in paragraph (g) of this section.� Turn
signals on the side toward which a vehicle turn is made shall be flashed to
indicate the turning movement.� Stop lamps shall be lighted as provided in
section 9 of P.L.1964, c.136 (C.39:3-61.3).

����
[
(k)
]

k.
� License plate
illumination will be deemed to be adequate when either a tail lamp or a
separate lamp is so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light
the rear license plate on a vehicle and render it clearly legible from a
distance of 50 feet to the rear.� Any lamp or lamps providing illumination
shall be lighted whenever the headlamps or other driving lamps are lighted.

����
[
(l)
]

l.
� Whenever a law
enforcement officer detects a motor vehicle with a lamp not in working order,
the driver may be permitted to park the vehicle temporarily at some safe place
nearby and make the necessary repairs or replacement to restore the lamp to
working order before moving the vehicle, in which event, there is no violation
of this Title.

����
[
(m)
]

m.
� Every motorbus
manufactured before January 1, 1960, that has been inspected and approved as to
construction and safety devices by the Board of Public Utility Commissioners
shall be deemed in compliance with the requirements of this section.

(cf: P.L.2013, c.230, s.1)

���� 4.� This act shall take effect
on the first day of the first year following enactment, except that the New
Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission may take such anticipatory actions as are
necessary in advance thereof to effectuate the provision of this act.

STATEMENT

���� This bill requires all
passenger vehicles registered in New Jersey, including noncommercial trucks, to
undergo a safety inspection of certain equipment and credentials to ensure the
safe operation of the vehicle.�

���� Under current law, passenger
vehicles are only required to be inspected for emissions and emission-related
items such as emission control equipment and on-board diagnostics.� This bill
provides that these vehicles would also be required to successfully pass a
safety inspection.

���� Specially, the safety
inspections would include an evaluation for the presence and function of the
following equipment within the motor vehicle:� a horn, stop lamps, headlamps,
tail lamps, turning signals, a windshield and windshield wipers, rear view
mirrors, tires, and seatbelts.� In addition to inspecting this equipment, the
safety inspection would also include the confirmation of the following
credentials for the owner or operator of the motor vehicle: a valid driver�s
license, a valid vehicle registration, and an active vehicle insurance policy.�
The bill also allows the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to add such
additional requirements to the safety inspection as it deems appropriation.

���� Additionally, this bill amends
a section of law to clarify that all head lamps, stop lamps, and turn signals
equipped on a vehicle are required to be operational.�