SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3437

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 5, 2024

      The Senate Transportation Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 3437.

      As amended and reported, this bill requires the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to issue special license plates for qualified disabled veterans.

      The plates allow disabled veterans with a mobility disability to park in a parking space or zone that is restricted for use by a person with a disability, provided that the disabled veteran displays the veteran’s valid, unexpired qualified disabled veteran license plate on the motor vehicle while parked in the parking space or zone.

      Under the bill, these special plates are to display the words “Disabled Veteran” and a wheelchair symbol.  There is a $15 fee to the applicant for these special license plates.

      Finally, the bill specifies that these plates are not transferable and are exclusively for the use of the person to whom they are duly issued.  The knowing misuse or abuse of any benefit, privilege, or consideration granted to a holder of a qualified disabled veteran license plate will be sufficient cause for the revocation of the benefits, privileges, and considerations provided to the holder of the license plate and the forfeiture of the license plate.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

      (1)  update the definition of disabled veteran to provide that the veteran’s ability to walk is required to be limited or impaired as certified by certain medical professionals;

      (2)  require the applicant for a qualified disabled veteran license plate to provide certain medical documentation of their mobility disability; and

      (3)  include a $15 fee for a qualified disabled veteran license plate.