New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

New Jersey Assembly Bill A5379 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	ASSEMBLY, No. 5379 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 221st LEGISLATURE INTRODUCED MARCH 6, 2025
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3	3	ASSEMBLY, No. 5379
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5	5	STATE OF NEW JERSEY
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7	7	221st LEGISLATURE
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11	11	INTRODUCED MARCH 6, 2025
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15	15	Sponsored by: Assemblyman CLINTON CALABRESE District 36 (Bergen and Passaic) SYNOPSIS Revises process for reporting lost or stolen registration plates to law enforcement agencies and MVC. CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT As introduced.
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19	19	Sponsored by:
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21	21	Assemblyman CLINTON CALABRESE
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23	23	District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)
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33	33	SYNOPSIS
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35	35	Revises process for reporting lost or stolen registration plates to law enforcement agencies and MVC.
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39	39	CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
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41	41	As introduced.
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45	45	An Act concerning lost or stolen registration plates and amending and supplementing P.L.1938, c.352. Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. Section 1 of P.L.1938, c.352 (C.39:3-85.1) is amended to read as follows: 1. a. Any person or persons whose motor vehicle has been stolen, and any person or persons whose registration plates have been lost or stolen, shall immediately [notify] file a report with the [chief of police or other peace officer] law enforcement agency within whose jurisdiction the theft or loss occurred. b. Any person or persons who have given any such report shall immediately, upon [the] recovery of the same, notify the [chief of police or other peace officer] law enforcement agency to [whom] which the original report had been made, of the recovery of the motor vehicle or registration plates. c. No later than 24 hours after a person files a report of lost or stolen registration plates pursuant to subsection a. of this section, the law enforcement agency to which the report had been made shall provide, to the person whose registration plates have been lost or stolen, a trackable case number that is linked to the report. d. The Superintendent of State Police, in consultation with the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, shall promulgate or revise guidelines on filing police reports for lost or stolen registration plates, as appropriate, to implement the provisions of this section. (cf: P.L.1938, c.352, s.1) 2. Section 2 of P.L.1938, c.352 (C.39:3-85.2) is amended to read as follows: 2. Every [chief of police or other peace officer] law enforcement agency in the State of New Jersey, upon receiving reliable information that any motor vehicle has been stolen or any registration plates have been lost or stolen, shall within [twenty-four] 24 hours report this information to the Superintendent of State Police and the commission. Any [chief of police or other peace officer] law enforcement agency, upon receiving reliable information that any motor vehicle or registration plates, which [he] the law enforcement agency previously reported as stolen or lost, has been recovered, shall within [twenty-four] 24 hours report the fact of such recovery to the Superintendent of State Police and the commission. (cf: P.L.2003, c.13, s.46) 3. Section 3 of P.L.1938, c.352 (C.39:3-85.3) is amended to read as follows: 3. The Superintendent of State Police and the commission, having been notified of the theft of a motor vehicle or the loss or theft of registration plates by a [chief of police or other peace officer] law enforcement agency, shall index and file this information in such a manner that a motor vehicle or registration plates can be properly identified. These records shall be available to all police officers and other interested agencies. The Superintendent of State Police and the commission shall co-operate with and assist all [peace officers] law enforcement officers and other agencies in tracing or examining any questionable automobiles to determine the ownership thereof. (cf: P.L.2003, c.13, s.47) 4. (New section) a. A person whose motor vehicle registration plates have been lost or stolen shall notify the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. b. When notifying the commission of lost or stolen registration plates, the person whose registration plates have been lost or stolen shall submit the following documents or information to the commission: (1) a copy of the police report concerning the lost or stolen registration plates or the trackable case number linked to the report, as provided by subsection c. of section 1 of P.L.1938, c.352 (C.39:3- 85.1); and (2) a completed vehicle registration plate status form. c. The commission shall 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, as provided by subsection c. of section 1 of P.L.1938, c.352 (C.39:3- 85.1). d. The commission shall provide the person reporting lost or stolen registration plates with a copy of the completed vehicle registration plate status form. 5. This act shall take effect six months after enactment. STATEMENT This bill revises the process for reporting lost or stolen registration plates to law enforcement agencies and the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (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 to the person whose registration plates have been lost or stolen, within 24 hours after a person files a report of the lost or stolen plates. Additionally, the Superintendent of State Police (superintendent), in consultation with the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (chief administrator), 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 a 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 or 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. With this legislation, the sponsor intends to:(1) expedite the lost and stolen registration plate replacement process; and (2) enhance law enforcement's ability to track lost or stolen registration plates and prevent misuse. The bill establishes a structured and transparent process that enables individuals to obtain necessary documentation without unnecessary delays, while also ensuring that lost or stolen registration plates are properly documented. By requiring timely reporting and ensuring that lost or stolen registration plates are entered into official records, the bill helps to aid law enforcement and prevent fraudulent registrations and the unauthorized use of registration plates.
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47	47	An Act concerning lost or stolen registration plates and amending and supplementing P.L.1938, c.352.
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51	51	Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
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55	55	1. Section 1 of P.L.1938, c.352 (C.39:3-85.1) is amended to read as follows:
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57	57	1. a. Any person or persons whose motor vehicle has been stolen, and any person or persons whose registration plates have been lost or stolen, shall immediately [notify] file a report with the [chief of police or other peace officer] law enforcement agency within whose jurisdiction the theft or loss occurred.
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59	59	b. Any person or persons who have given any such report shall immediately, upon [the] recovery of the same, notify the [chief of police or other peace officer] law enforcement agency to [whom] which the original report had been made, of the recovery of the motor vehicle or registration plates.
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61	61	c. No later than 24 hours after a person files a report of lost or stolen registration plates pursuant to subsection a. of this section, the law enforcement agency to which the report had been made shall provide, to the person whose registration plates have been lost or stolen, a trackable case number that is linked to the report.
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63	63	d. The Superintendent of State Police, in consultation with the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, shall promulgate or revise guidelines on filing police reports for lost or stolen registration plates, as appropriate, to implement the provisions of this section.
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65	65	(cf: P.L.1938, c.352, s.1)
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69	69	2. Section 2 of P.L.1938, c.352 (C.39:3-85.2) is amended to read as follows:
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71	71	2. Every [chief of police or other peace officer] law enforcement agency in the State of New Jersey, upon receiving reliable information that any motor vehicle has been stolen or any registration plates have been lost or stolen, shall within [twenty-four] 24 hours report this information to the Superintendent of State Police and the commission.
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73	73	Any [chief of police or other peace officer] law enforcement agency, upon receiving reliable information that any motor vehicle or registration plates, which [he] the law enforcement agency previously reported as stolen or lost, has been recovered, shall within [twenty-four] 24 hours report the fact of such recovery to the Superintendent of State Police and the commission.
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75	75	(cf: P.L.2003, c.13, s.46)
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77	77	3. Section 3 of P.L.1938, c.352 (C.39:3-85.3) is amended to read as follows:
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79	79	3. The Superintendent of State Police and the commission, having been notified of the theft of a motor vehicle or the loss or theft of registration plates by a [chief of police or other peace officer] law enforcement agency, shall index and file this information in such a manner that a motor vehicle or registration plates can be properly identified. These records shall be available to all police officers and other interested agencies. The Superintendent of State Police and the commission shall co-operate with and assist all [peace officers] law enforcement officers and other agencies in tracing or examining any questionable automobiles to determine the ownership thereof.
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81	81	(cf: P.L.2003, c.13, s.47)
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85	85	4. (New section) a. A person whose motor vehicle registration plates have been lost or stolen shall notify the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.
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87	87	b. When notifying the commission of lost or stolen registration plates, the person whose registration plates have been lost or stolen shall submit the following documents or information to the commission:
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89	89	(1) a copy of the police report concerning the lost or stolen registration plates or the trackable case number linked to the report, as provided by subsection c. of section 1 of P.L.1938, c.352 (C.39:3- 85.1); and
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91	91	(2) a completed vehicle registration plate status form.
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93	93	c. The commission shall update the vehicle registration plate status form to include:
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95	95	(1) a space to notate if the registration plates are lost or stolen; and
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97	97	(2) a space for the trackable case number linked to the report, as provided by subsection c. of section 1 of P.L.1938, c.352 (C.39:3- 85.1).
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99	99	d. The commission shall provide the person reporting lost or stolen registration plates with a copy of the completed vehicle registration plate status form.
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103	103	5. This act shall take effect six months after enactment.
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109	109	STATEMENT
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113	113	This bill revises the process for reporting lost or stolen registration plates to law enforcement agencies and the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission).
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115	115	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 to the person whose registration plates have been lost or stolen, within 24 hours after a person files a report of the lost or stolen plates. Additionally, the Superintendent of State Police (superintendent), in consultation with the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (chief administrator), 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.
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117	117	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 a 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 or police or other peace officer as is required by current law.
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119	119	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.
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121	121	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.
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123	123	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.
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125	125	With this legislation, the sponsor intends to:(1) expedite the lost and stolen registration plate replacement process; and (2) enhance law enforcement's ability to track lost or stolen registration plates and prevent misuse. The bill establishes a structured and transparent process that enables individuals to obtain necessary documentation without unnecessary delays, while also ensuring that lost or stolen registration plates are properly documented. By requiring timely reporting and ensuring that lost or stolen registration plates are entered into official records, the bill helps to aid law enforcement and prevent fraudulent registrations and the unauthorized use of registration plates.