New Jersey
Below is a list of the key highway safety laws in New Jersey. For more information, contact the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety.
| Aggressive Driver Actions | Comments |
| New Jersey enforces against aggressive driving under title 39, through existing laws. The offense may be adjudicated under 39:4-97 (Aggressive Driving), 39:4-97 (Careless Driving), 39-4-97.2 (Operating a vehicle in an Unsafe Manner) or any other statute at the discretion of the officer. | |
Sources: National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and State Highway Safety Offices.
| Handheld Ban | All Cell Phone Ban | Text Messaging Ban | Crash Data |
||||||
| School Bus Drivers | Novice Drivers | All Drivers | School Bus Drivers | Novice Drivers | |||||
| Yes (Primary) |
Yes (Primary) |
<21 w/ GDL or Provisional License (Primary) |
Yes (Primary) |
Covered under all driver ban | Yes | ||||
Dealt with as a distracted driving issue; New Hampshire enacted a comprehensive distracted driving law.
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.
| Child Restraint Required unless indicated, # refers to Yrs.(Lbs.) |
Adult Safety Belt Permissible unless indicated, # refers to Yrs.(Lbs.) |
Maximum Fine 1st Offense |
| <8 (and <80) in rear seat if available | Not permissible | $25 + court fees |
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.
| Per Se Laws for Drugs (Forbidding Prohibited Substances in Driver's Body) | DEC/DRE Programs (Providing Law Enforcement Training) |
| Yes | |
Source: State Highway Safety Offices.
| Admin. License Suspen- sion on 1st Offense |
Limited Driving Privileges During Suspension | Inc. Penalty for High BAC | Open Container Laws | Repeat Offender Laws | Vehicle and License Plate Sanctions | Ignition Interlocks | Alcohol Exclusion Laws Limiting Treatment Opportunity | |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Mandatory for repeat convictions and first-time offenders at >.15 | Yes | ||||
Sources: Ensuring Solutions to Alcohol Problems, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and State Highway Safety Offices.
| Learner Stage | Intermediate Stage | Full Privilege Min. Age (Yrs./Mos.) |
Required Supervised Driving Hours (Night Hours) |
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| Min. Age (Yrs./ Mos.) |
Min. Dura- tion (Mos.) |
Min. Age (Yrs./Mos.) |
Night- time Driving Restriction |
Passenger Restriction* (* family members exempt) |
|||
| 16 | 6 | 17 | 11 p.m. - 5 a.m. (eff. 5/10) |
No more than 1 pass. (eff. 5/10) |
18 | None | |
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.
| Motorcyclists | Bicyclists | ||
| Universal Helmet Law (Year Enacted) | Partial Law | Universal Helmet Law Repealed | |
| 1968 | <17 | ||
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.
| Length of Regular Renewal Cycle (Yrs.) | Provisions for Mature Drivers |
| 4 | |
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.
| Type of Law | Who is Covered (Yrs.) | In What Seat | Maximum Fine 1st Offense |
| Primary | <8 and <80 lbs. | Rear | $25, plus court costs |
| 8-17 | All | ||
| >18 (law is secondary for rear seats) | All | ||
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway and State Highway Safety Offices.
| Permitted on Sidewalks/Bicycle Paths | Permitted on Roads | Helmets Required | Minimum Age | Pedestrian Laws Apply |
| Sidewalks and bicycle paths | Yes | Yes | 16 | |
Sources: Segway LLC and State Highway Safety Offices.
| Checkpoints Conducted? | Comments |
| Yes | Once or twice a month |
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.
| Rural Interstates | Urban Interstates | Other Limited Access Roads | |||
| Cars (mph) |
Trucks (mph) |
Cars (mph) |
Trucks (mph) |
Cars (mph) |
Trucks (mph) |
| 65 | 65 | 55 | 55 | 65 | 65 |
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.
| State Law | Violations | Location | Citation Issued To / Liability |
Image / Privacy | Penalties (Traditional Penalties) | Defenses |
| Prohibited unless local jurisdictions w/ ordinance; must apply apply to Transportation Commissioner (pilot program) - 22 towns in the pilot program | Red light | Registered owner / Registered owner and driver are jointly liable | 2 or more images of vehicle and tag | At least $85 and higher, plus court costs; no points | Not addressed | |
Sources: National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.
| Multiple of Original Fine | Violations Affected | Workers Must Be Present | |
| Double | All moving vehicle violations | No | |
Sources: National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse and State Highway Safety Offices.