SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 205

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 28, 2026

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 205.

      As reported, this bill amends current law to add additional penalties for certain limousine law violations.

      Specifically, the bill increases the penalties to a fine of $7,500, the suspension of the violator’s driver’s license for six months, and the impoundment of the violator’s vehicle for the third and any subsequent offense of:  (1) operating a limousine without a license issued by a municipality; (2) knowingly permitting a driver to operate a limousine without a validly issued driver’s license or a validly issued commercial driver’s license; (3) failing to have filed an insurance policy in the amount of $1.5 million or in certain other amounts as required by current law; or (4) operating a limousine in which the number of passengers exceeds the maximum seating capacity.

      The bill also establishes a fine of $7,500 and the impoundment of the violator’s vehicle for the third and any subsequent offense of:  (1) operating a limousine without special registration plates; or (2) operating a limousine that was not properly inspected in accordance with current law.

      As reported by the committee, Senate Bill No. 205 is identical to Assembly Bill No. 1552, which was also reported by the committee on this date.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates that the bill will result in an annual indeterminate increase in local revenues attributable to increased fine collections as a result of additional penalties for certain limousine law violations.

      Additionally, the OLS anticipates that the bill will result in annual indeterminate increases in State revenue attributable to the collection of fees to reinstate suspended licenses by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.

      The OLS is unable to quantify the annual revenue increases because it remains unclear how many limousine operators currently commit repeated offenses that reach a third or subsequent violation.