SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 4144

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 20, 2025

      The Senate Judiciary Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 4144.

      This bill addresses aspects of P.L.2023, c.191 (C.39:4-50.21a et al.) regarding the installation of ignition interlock devices (IID) for certain driving while intoxicated (DWI) offenses.

      Under the provisions of this bill, any person who is required to forfeit the right to operate a motor vehicle over the highways of this State pursuant to current law may, in lieu of forfeiting the right to operate a motor vehicle, install an ignition interlock device and receive a one day credit against the period of license forfeiture pursuant to current law for every two days that the person has the ignition interlock device installed. 

      The bill provides that a person is not entitled to this credit if the violation of R.S.39:4-50 resulted in serious bodily injury to another person.  In addition, a person who has been arrested or convicted of operating or permitting another person to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of a narcotic, hallucinogenic, or habit-producing drug pursuant to the provisions of  R.S.39:4-50 or a person who is convicted of operating a commercial motor vehicle under the influence of a controlled substance pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1990, c.103 (C.39:3-10.13) is also not eligible for this credit.

      The provisions of this bill take effect immediately and apply to any offense occurring on or after the effective date.  The bill’s provisions expire on January 1, 2029 to conform to the expiration of P.L.2019, c.248 and P.L.2023, c.191 which also expire on January 1, 2029 and concern the installation of ignition interlock devices.