An Act concerning penalties for certain traffic violations, creating a fund for the acquisition of certain traffic signage, amending R.S.39:4-88 and supplementing Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. R.S.39:4-88 is amended to read as follows:
Traffic on marked lanes.
When a roadway has been divided into clearly marked lanes for traffic, drivers of vehicles shall obey the following regulations:
a. A vehicle shall normally be driven in the lane nearest the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway when that lane is available for travel, except when overtaking another vehicle or in preparation for a left turn.
b. A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from that lane until the driver has first ascertained that the movement can be made with safety.
c. Upon a highway which is divided into 3 lanes, a vehicle shall not be driven in the center lane except when overtaking or passing another vehicle or in preparation for a left turn or unless the center lane is at the time allocated for traffic moving in the direction the vehicle is proceeding and is signposted to give notice of that allocation.
d. The State Highway Commissioner may by regulation or local authorities may by resolution or ordinance with respect to highways under their jurisdiction designate right-hand lanes for slow moving traffic and inside lanes for traffic moving at the speed designated for the district as provided under this chapter, and when the lanes are signposted or marked to give notice of the designation a vehicle may be driven in any lane allocated to traffic moving in the direction in which it is proceeding, but when traveling within the inside lanes the vehicle shall be driven at approximately the speed authorized in such lanes and speed shall not be decreased unnecessarily so as to block, hinder or retard traffic.
e. When such roadway had been divided in such a manner that there are three or more lanes for traffic in any one direction, no truck of 10,000 pounds registered gross weight or over shall be driven in the farthest left-hand lane, except:
(1) when and to the extent necessary to prepare for a left turn; a truck may be driven in the farthest left lane for up to one mile to prepare for a left hand turn as authorized under this paragraph;
(2) when necessary to enter or leave such roadway by entrance or exit to or from the left lane; a truck may be driven in the farthest left lane for up to one mile to prepare to enter or leave the roadway as authorized under this paragraph;
(3) when reasonably necessary in response to emergency conditions; for the purposes of this paragraph, “emergency conditions” shall include, but not be limited to: poor visibility, snow, accidents, or the presence of emergency vehicles.
C.39:4-88.1 Penalties, fines.
2. The penalty for a violation of failing to keep right under R.S.39:4-82 or failure to observe traffic lanes under R.S. 39:4-88 shall be a fine of not less than $100 or more than $300. In addition to any fine that may be imposed, a surcharge of $50 shall be imposed on each person found guilty of a violation of R.S.39:4-82 or R.S.39:4-88. The State Treasurer shall annually deposit the surcharge into the fund established pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2013, c.86 (C.39:4-88.2).
C.39:4-88.2 Repository fund.
3. There is created within the Department of the Treasury, a separate, non-lapsing fund that shall be administered by the Department of Transportation. The fund shall be the repository for the $50 surcharge imposed for each violation of R.S.39:4-82 and R.S. 39:4-88. Unless otherwise specifically provided by law, monies in the fund shall be utilized exclusively to acquire, install, and maintain highway signs that notify motorists entering New Jersey to comply with the provisions of R.S.39:4-82 and R.S.39:4-88.
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
Approved August 7, 2013.