STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman YVONNE LOPEZ
District 19 (Middlesex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen Kearney, Scharfenberger, Sampson, Peterson and Danielsen
SYNOPSIS
Requires NJTA and SJTA to exempt certain disabled veterans from E-ZPass tolls.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning toll exemptions and supplementing Title 27 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. For the purposes of this section:
“Authority” means the New Jersey Turnpike Authority established by section 3 of P.L.1948, c.454 (C.27:23-3).
“Disabled veteran” shall have the same meaning as provided in section 1 of P.L.1979, c.457 (C.39:3-27.15).
“Electronic toll collection system” means the electronic system employed or utilized by the authority to register and collect the toll required to be paid for a vehicle entering a toll plaza owned or operated by, on behalf of, the authority.
b. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority shall establish and maintain a program to exempt disabled veterans from tolls collected by or on behalf of the authority by means of an electronic toll collection system. Under the program, a disabled veteran may apply for an exemption from tolls pursuant to this subsection for a motor vehicle that:
(1) is owned or leased by a disabled veteran;
(2) is registered in the State of New Jersey and displays a license plate bearing the term “Disabled Vet” that was issued for the motor vehicle pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1979, c.457 (C.39:3-27.15); and
(3) has an active New Jersey electronic toll collection system account for the motor vehicle.
c. To qualify for the toll exemption program established pursuant to subsection b. of this section, a disabled veteran shall first apply for a license plate bearing the term “Disabled Vet” as issued pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1979, c.457 (C.39:3-27.15) before applying for the toll exemption program. If the application for a license plate bearing the term “Disabled Vet” by a disabled veteran is approved by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, the disabled veteran may then apply for the toll exemption program.
The authority shall approve the application for the toll exemption program of any disabled veteran who is in possession of and approved for a license plate bearing the term “Disabled Vet” issued pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1979, c.457 (C.39:3-27.15).
2. a. For the purposes of this section:
“Authority” means the South Jersey Transportation Authority established by section 4 of P.L.1991, c.252 (C.27:25A-4).
“Disabled veteran” shall have the same meaning as provided in section 1 of P.L.1979, c.457 (C.39:3-27.15).
“Electronic toll collection system” means the electronic system employed or utilized by the authority to register and collect the toll required to be paid for a vehicle entering a toll plaza owned or operated by, on behalf of, the authority.
b. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the South Jersey Transportation Authority shall establish and maintain a program to exempt disabled veterans from tolls collected by or on behalf of the authority by means of an electronic toll collection system. Under the program, a disabled veteran may apply for an exemption from tolls pursuant to this subsection for a motor vehicle that:
(1) is owned or leased by a disabled veteran;
(2) is registered in the State of New Jersey and displays a license plate bearing the term “Disabled Vet” that was issued for the motor vehicle pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1979, c.457 (C.39:3-27.15); and
(3) has an active New Jersey electronic toll collection system account for the motor vehicle.
c. To qualify for the toll exemption program established pursuant to subsection b. of this section, a disabled veteran shall first apply for a license plate bearing the term “Disabled Vet” as issued pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1979, c.457 (C.39:3-27.15) before applying for the toll exemption program. If the application for a license plate bearing the term “Disabled Vet” by a disabled veteran is approved by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, the disabled veteran may then apply for the toll exemption program.
The authority shall approve the application for the toll exemption program of any disabled veteran who is in possession of and approved for a license plate bearing the term “Disabled Vet” and issued pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1979, c.457 (C.39:3-27.15).
3. This act shall take effect 90 days following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to establish and maintain an electric toll collection exemption program (toll exemption program) for certain disabled veterans who have an account with the New Jersey electronic toll collection system (E-ZPass). The toll exemption program is to be available for a vehicle that is owned or leased by a disabled veteran; is registered in the State of New Jersey and displays a license plate bearing the term “Disabled Vet” that was issued for the motor vehicle; and has an active New Jersey E-ZPass account.
To qualify for the toll exemption program, a disabled veteran is required to have applied and been approved for a license plate bearing the term “Disabled Vet” before applying for the toll exemption program. The NJTA and the SJTA are then required to approve an application by a disabled veteran who is in possession of and approved for a license plate bearing the term “Disabled Vet” for the toll exemption program.