LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE
ASSEMBLY, No. 5379
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
DATED: OCTOBER 27, 2025
SUMMARY
|
Synopsis: |
Revises process for reporting lost or stolen registration plates to law enforcement agencies and MVC. |
|
Type of Impact: |
Annual increase in State and local expenditures. |
|
Agencies Affected: |
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission; State Police and local law enforcement agencies. |
|
Office of Legislative Services Estimate |
||
|
Fiscal Impact |
Annual |
|
|
State Expenditure Increase |
Indeterminate |
|
|
Local Expenditure Increase |
Indeterminate |
|
|
|
|
|
· The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) anticipates that the bill will result in indeterminate annual expenditure increases for the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and State and local law enforcement agencies associated with the new reporting requirements for lost or stolen registration plates.
· The commission may experience expenditure increases to update their information technology (IT) system and database to accept and process the revised plate report forms outlined in the bill. Additionally, IT system upgrades will have to be made to integrate the trackable case number provided with the lost or stolen registration plate report provided by law enforcement.
· State Police and local law enforcement agencies may experience expenditure increases to update existing reporting procedures and IT systems to include trackable case numbers and notify the commission and other local law enforcement agencies of lost or stolen registration plate reports.
BILL DESCRIPTION
This bill revises the process for reporting lost or stolen registration plates to law enforcement agencies and the commission.
The bill requires a law enforcement agency that receives a report of lost or stolen registration plates to provide a trackable case number that is linked to the report within 24 hours after a person files a report of the lost or stolen plates. Additionally, the State Police, in consultation with the commission, is required to promulgate or revise guidelines on filing police reports for lost or stolen registration plates, as appropriate, to implement this provision of the bill.
The bill also amends current law to require a person whose motor vehicle has been stolen or whose registration plates have been lost or stolen to immediately file a report with the law enforcement agency within whose jurisdiction the theft or loss occurred, rather than notify the chief of police or other peace officer as required under current law. Additionally, the bill requires the law enforcement agency who receives notice of a stolen motor vehicle or lost or stolen registration plates to take certain action rather than the chief of police or other peace officer as is required by current law.
This bill also requires a person whose registration plates have been lost or stolen to notify the commission. When notifying the commission of lost or stolen registration plates, the person whose registration plates have been lost or stolen is required to submit: (1) a copy of the police report concerning the lost or stolen registration plates or the trackable case number linked to the report; and (2) a completed vehicle registration plate status form. The commission is required to update the vehicle registration plate status form to include: (1) a space to notate if the registration plates are lost or stolen; and (2) a space for the trackable case number linked to the report. Upon completion of the form, the commission is required to provide the person reporting lost or stolen registration plates with a copy of the completed vehicle registration plate status form.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
None received.
OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
The OLS anticipates that the bill will result in indeterminate annual expenditure increases for the commission and State and local law enforcement agencies associated with the new reporting requirements for lost or stolen registration plates.
The commission may experience expenditure increases to update their IT system and database to accept and process the revised plate report forms outlined in the bill. Additionally, IT system upgrades will have to be made to integrate the trackable case number provided with the lost or stolen registration plate report provided by law enforcement. The commission may also experience marginal expenditure increases associated with the administration and processing of lost or stolen plate forms, including providing physical copies with the required tracking information.
State Police and local law enforcement agencies may experience
expenditure increases to update existing reporting procedures and IT systems to
include trackable case numbers and notify the commission and other local law
enforcement agencies of lost or stolen registration plate reports. Marginal
annual costs may include training officers on how to use the new system;
however, the OLS anticipates that these expenditures can be absorbed into the
current duties for most departments.
|
Section: |
Authorities, Utilities, Transportation and Communications |
|
Analyst: |
Associate Fiscal 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.).