LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

ASSEMBLY, No. 1550

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

220th LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: JULY 13, 2022

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Authorizes surviving spouse or family member of decedent to use motor vehicle registration certificate of decedent until registration certificate expires.

Type of Impact:

Marginal decrease in State and local revenues.

Agencies Affected:

State, counties, and municipalities.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Annual Impact

 

State Revenue Decrease

Marginal

 

Local Revenue Decrease

Marginal

 

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes that this bill may result in a marginal decrease in State and local revenues by reducing the number of persons who would be fined for operating a motor vehicle without a valid registration.

·         In most circumstances, the bill is expected to extend the period of time in which the family member of a decedent may lawfully operate the decedent’s motor vehicle.  As a result, this bill is expected to reduce the number of instances in which a person would be deemed to operate a motor vehicle without valid registration, thereby marginally decreasing the amount of associated fine collections.

·         When a person is fined for a motor vehicle violation, the fine collections are either retained by the State or divided equally between the host municipality and host county depending on whether the fine was imposed by a State or local law enforcement officer.  Accordingly, the impact of reduced fine collections would be spread between the State, counties, and municipalities. 

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill authorizes the surviving spouse or other family member of a decedent to operate the decedent’s motor vehicle upon the public highways of this State under the decedent’s registration certificate until the expiration of that registration certificate.  New Jersey law currently provides a surviving spouse or other family members 30 days to operate a vehicle under a decedent’s registration certificate.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS concludes that this bill may result in a marginal decrease in State and local revenues by reducing the number of persons who would be fined for operating a motor vehicle without a valid registration.

      Under current law, after the owner of a motor vehicle has died, a member of the decedent’s family may only operate the motor vehicle during the 30-day period following the person’s death.  The bill instead provides that a family member of the decedent may operate the motor vehicle until the expiration of the existing registration certificate.  In general, the registration certificate would terminate upon the transfer of ownership of the motor vehicle or the original expiration date, whichever occurs earlier. 

      In most circumstances, the bill is expected to extend the period of time in which the family member of a decedent may lawfully operate the decedent’s motor vehicle.  As a result, this bill is expected to reduce the number of instances in which a person would be deemed to operate a motor vehicle without valid registration, thereby marginally decreasing the amount of associated fine collections.  However, the State does not appear to maintain data concerning (1) the number of instances in which a family member of a decedent is fined for operating the decedent’s motor vehicle more than 30 days after the person’s death; and (2) the amount of fines imposed on such persons.  Consequently, the OLS is unable to quantify the fiscal impact of the bill.   

      Regardless, the OLS notes that when a person is fined for operating a motor vehicle without valid registration, the collections are either retained by the State or divided equally between the host municipality and host county depending on whether the fine was imposed by a State or local law enforcement officer.  Accordingly, the impact of reduced fine collections would be spread between the State, counties, and municipalities. 

 

 

Section:

Authorities, Utilities, Transportation and Communications

Analyst:

Joseph A. Pezzulo

Senior Research Analyst

Approved:

Thomas Koenig

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

 

 

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).