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S4497
SENATE, No. 4497
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED JUNE 22, 2026
Sponsored by:
Senator� PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.
District 18 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
���� Requires safety inspection for certain motor
vehicles.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
concerning safety inspections and requirements for
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. �Every motor
vehicle registered in this State
[
which
]
that
is used over any public road, street, or highway
,
or
on
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.�
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.
�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: �
����
(1)
�� 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.
]
; and
����
(2)�� safety or
safety-related items, which shall include an evaluation for the presence and
function of the following equipment in or on 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 1 of P.L.1965, c.107 (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);
����
(k)�� a registration plate
or plates, as displayed pursuant to R.S.39:3-33; and
����
(l)��� 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
]
an
exclusion exists, unless the exclusion is likely to prevent
[
this
]
the
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
paragraph (1) of subsection a. of
R.S.39:8-1
[
and
that successfully pass such inspections shall be issued a certificate of
approval
]
, and for safety or safety-related items 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)� Every motor
vehicle other than a
[
motor
cycle
]
motorcycle
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
]
.�
However,
a passenger
[
vehicle
]
automobile
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
]
shall
not
be
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
]
shall
not
be
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)� 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)� Every truck
that is
80 inches or more in
[
over-all
]
overall
width
,
except a dump truck and except a truck
that is
80 inches
or more in
[
over-all
]
overall
width
[
which
]
and
is
not in excess of 25 feet in
[
over-all
]
overall
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
]
on
the front, two
clearance lamps, one at each side, and three identification lamps
[
except that
]
.�
However,
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
]
on
the rear, two
clearance lamps, one at each side, and three identification lamps;
and
����
[
On
]
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)� 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)� Every trailer or
semitrailer
that is
80 inches or more in
[
over-all
]
overall
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
]
on
the front, two
clearance lamps, one at each side;
����
[
On
]
on
the rear, two
clearance lamps, one at each side, and except with respect to cable reel
trailers, three identification lamps;
����
[
On
]
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)� Every pole trailer shall
be equipped as follows:�
����
[
On
]
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
[
.
]
; and
����
[
On
]
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
]
overall
width
,
which
trailer
is designed to transport poles and is owned
by a public utility as defined in R.S.48:2-13
[
except
that
]
.�
However,
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)� 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
]
shall
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)� Every
[
motor cycle
]
motorcycle
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
]
of the
motorcycle
, one lamp located on the outside limit of the attachment capable
of displaying white light to the front.
���� (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
]
automobiles
,
and on commercial vehicles less than 80 inches in
[
over-all
]
overall
width
,
[
they
]
the turn
signals
may be Class B lamps.� Reflectors shall be Class A reflex
reflectors except that on passenger
[
cars
]
automobiles
[
they
]
the
reflectors
may be Class B reflex reflectors.
���� (j)�
[
Required
headlamps
]
All headlamps
, tail lamps, clearance lamps, identification lamps, and
side-marker lamps
required under this section
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)� License plate
illumination
[
will
]
shall
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
]
the
license plate
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)� 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)� 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
]
Utilities
shall be deemed in compliance with the requirements of this
section.
���� (
n)�� For the purposes of
this section, a �converter dolly� means a vehicle with a fifth wheel lower half
or equivalent mechanism, the attachment of which converts a semitrailer to a
trailer.
(cf: �P.L.2013, c.230, s.1)
���� 4.��� This act shall take
effect on the first day of the first year following enactment.� However, the
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission may take such anticipatory actions as are
necessary in advance thereof to effectuate the provisions 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.
���� Specially, the bill requires a
safety inspection to evaluate the presence and function of the following
equipment in or on the motor vehicle:� a horn, stop lamps, headlamps, tail
lamps, turning signals, a windshield and windshield wipers, rear view mirrors,
tires, seatbelts, and a registration plate or plates.� The bill also requires a
safety inspection to confirm 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.� In addition, under the
bill, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission may add any additional
requirements to the safety inspection as it deems appropriate.
���� Finally, this bill amends current
law to clarify that all head lamps, stop lamps, and turn signals equipped on a
vehicle are to be operational.