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A4978
ASSEMBLY, No. 4978
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED MAY 7, 2026
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman� DAWN FANTASIA
District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)
SYNOPSIS
���� Authorizes creation of vertical motorcycle license
plates.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
concerning motorcycle license plates, amending
R.S.39:3-33, and supplementing chapter 3 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.�
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� R.S.39:3-33 is amended
to read as follows:
���� 39:3-33.� The owner of an
automobile which is driven on the public highways of this State shall display
not less than 12 inches nor more than 48 inches from the ground in a horizontal
position, and in such a way as not to swing, a registration plate or plates to
be furnished by the commission; provided, that if two registration plates are
issued
[
they
]
one
registration plate
shall be displayed on the front and
one registration
plate shall be displayed on the
rear of the vehicle; and provided, further,
that if only one registration plate is issued it shall be displayed on the rear
of the vehicle; and provided, further, that the rear registration plate may be
displayed more than 48 inches from the ground on tank trucks, trailers, and
other commercial vehicles carrying inflammable liquids and on sanitation
vehicles which are used to collect, transport, and dispose of garbage, solid
wastes, and refuse.� Motorcycles shall also display a registration plate or
registration
plates
in a horizontal position or in a vertical position as prescribed
pursuant to section 2 of P.L. , c.
(C. ) (pending before the
Legislature as this bill)
; provided, that if two registration plates are
issued
[
they
]
one
registration plate
shall be displayed on the front and
one registration
plate shall be displayed on the
rear of the motorcycle; and provided,
further, that if only one registration plate is issued it shall be displayed on
the rear of the motorcycle.
���� The registration plate
or
registration plates
shall contain the number of the registration
certificate of the vehicle and shall be of such design and material as
prescribed pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1989, c.202 (C.39:3-33.9).� All
registration plates shall be kept clear and distinct and free from grease,
dust, or other blurring matter, so as to be plainly visible at all times of the
day and night.
���� A person shall not drive a
motor vehicle which has a registration plate frame or holder that conceals or
otherwise obscures the name of the State or the registration number furnished
by the commission imprinted upon the vehicle's registration plate, or any part
of any insert which the commission, as hereinafter provided, issues to be
inserted in and attached to that registration plate, or that conceals or
otherwise obscures the name of the State, the registration number, or the
expiration date on any temporary registration certificate or temporary
registration plate issued by the commission.� It shall not be a violation of
this section and therefore not a basis for a lawful stop if part of the name of
the State or the registration number imprinted on a vehicle's registration
plate, or part of an insert issued by the commission inserted in or attached to
the registration plate, or part of the name of the State, the registration
number, or the expiration date on a temporary registration certificate or temporary
registration plate is concealed or otherwise obscured in a way such that the
information to which this provision applies can still reasonably be identified
or discerned.� The Attorney General shall issue such guidance as the Attorney
General deems necessary for law enforcement officers to properly interpret and
enforce the provisions of this section.
���� The chief administrator is
authorized and empowered to issue registration plate inserts, to be inserted in
and attached to the registration plates described herein.�
[
They
]
The
registration plate inserts
may be issued in the place of new registration
plates; and inscribed thereon, in numerals, shall be the year in which
registration of the vehicle has been granted.
����
[
No
]
A
person shall
not
drive a motor vehicle
if
the owner of
[
which
]
the motor
vehicle
has not complied with the provisions of
[
this subtitle
]
Title 39
concerning the proper registration and identification thereof
[
, nor
]
.� A
person shall not
drive a motor vehicle which displays a fictitious number,
or a number other than that designated for the motor vehicle in its
registration certificate.� During the period of time between the application
for motor vehicle registration and the receipt of registration plates from the
commission,
[
no
]
a
person shall
not
affix a plate for the purpose of advertisement in the
position on a motor vehicle normally reserved for the display of the
registration plates required by this section if the plate is designed with a
combination of letters, numbers, colors, or words to resemble the registration
plates required by this section.
���� A person convicted of
displaying a fictitious number, as prohibited herein, shall be subject to a
fine not exceeding $500 or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 60
days.
���� A person violating any other
provision of this section shall be subject to a fine not exceeding $100.� In
default of the payment thereof, there shall be imposed an imprisonment in the
county jail for a period not exceeding 10 days.� A person convicted of a second
offense of the same violation may be fined in double the amount herein
prescribed for the first offense and may, in default of the payment thereof, be
punished by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not exceeding 20
days.� These penalties shall not apply to the display of a fictitious number.
(cf: �P.L.2023, c.49, s.1)�
���� 2.��� (New section) a.� Upon
proper application, the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle
Commission shall issue registration plates that are to be displayed in a
vertical position for any motorcycle owned or leased and registered in the
State.� The vertical motorcycle registration plates shall contain an
identification mark or identification marks to be furnished by the commission
arranged in a vertical alignment.� The vertical motorcycle registration plates shall
be subject to the provisions of R.S.39:3-33, except as hereinafter otherwise
specifically provided.
���� A vertical motorcycle registration
plate shall only be displayed in a vertical position and shall not be displayed
in a horizontal position.� A registration plate for a motorcycle that contains
an identification mark or identification marks arranged in a horizontal
alignment shall only be displayed in a horizontal position and shall not be
displayed in a vertical position.�
���� b.��� Application for issuance
of vertical motorcycle registration plates shall be made to the chief
administrator on forms and in a manner prescribed by the chief administrator.�
In order to be deemed complete, an application shall be accompanied by a fee of
$20, payable to the commission, which shall be in addition to the fees
otherwise prescribed by law for the registration of a motorcycle.
���� c.���� The chief administrator
shall annually certify to the State Treasurer the average cost per set of vertical
motorcycle registration plates incurred in the immediately preceding year by
the commission in producing, issuing, and publicizing the availability of the vertical
motorcycle registration plates.� The annual certification of the average cost
per set of vertical motorcycle registration plates shall be approved by the
Joint Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor.
���� d.��� The chief administrator
shall notify eligible motorists of the opportunity to obtain vertical
motorcycle registration plates by publicizing the availability of the vertical
motorcycle registration plates on the website of the commission.�
���� 3.��� This act shall take
effect immediately, but shall remain inoperative until the first day of the
12th month following enactment.� The chief administrator may take anticipatory
actions in advance of that date as may be necessary for the timely
implementation of P.L. , c.
(C. ) (pending before the
Legislature as this bill).�
STATEMENT
���� This bill authorizes the Chief
Administrator (chief administrator) of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
(commission) to issue license plates for motorcycles, which are to be displayed
in a vertical position (vertical motorcycle license plates).� The vertical
motorcycle license plates are to contain the identification mark or marks, which
are furnished by the commission, arranged in a vertical alignment.� There is an
application fee of $20 for the vertical motorcycle license plates, which is to
be in addition to the fees otherwise prescribed by law for the registration of
a motorcycle.
���� The chief administrator is
required to annually certify the average cost per set of vertical motorcycle
license plates incurred in the immediately preceding year by the commission in
producing, issuing, and publicizing the availability of the vertical motorcycle
license plates.� The chief administrator is to notify eligible motorists of the
opportunity to obtain vertical motorcycle license plates by publicizing the
availability of the vertical motorcycle license plates on the website of the
commission.�
���� Under the bill, vertical
motorcycle license plates are to only be displayed in a vertical position and
are not to be displayed in a horizontal position.� A license plate for a
motorcycle that contains an identification mark or identification marks
arranged in a horizontal alignment are to only be displayed in a horizontal
position and are not to be displayed in a vertical position.