State of New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission - Driver Manual

* Driving while a license and/or registration is suspended for failure to properly insure a vehicle will result in a fine of $500, an additional driver license suspension of one to two years and possible court ordered imprisonment for up to 90 days (N.J.S.A. 39:3-40).

* Driving while a license and/or registration is suspended and having a collision that causes injury to another person will result in a fine, continued suspension and the potential for a minimum 45-day jail sentence (N.J.S.A. 39:3-40).

* Driving while a license and/or registration is suspended for a drug or alcohol offense, refusal to take a breath test or if the motorist is a habitual offender, will result in a fine of $500 and an additional license suspension of one to two years and/or possible court-ordered imprisonment for 10 to 90 days (N.J.S.A. 39:3-40).

* Driving while a driving privilege is suspended due to driving while under the influence, refusal to submit to a chemical test or for a habitual offender offense, and driving on school property or within 1,000 feet of school property or through a school crossing zone will result in one to two years additional suspension time, a $500 fine and between 60 to 90 days imprisonment for a first offense. For second and third offenses, the suspension and fines remain the same, but the imprisonment term is increased to 120 to 150 days and 180 days, respectively (N.J.S.A. 39:3-40).

* Driving after failing to install an interlock device, as ordered by the court, results in a one-year suspension, in addition to any other suspensions already imposed, and may include penalties as a disorderly person (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.19).

Other violations:

* Refusal to submit to a chemical test and driving on any school property or within 1,000 feet of school property or through a school crossing zone. Motorist will receive for a first offense a $600 to $1,000 fine and a one-to two-year driving privilege suspension; for second offenses the fine is $1,000 to $2,000 and the driving privilege will be suspended for four years. For a third offense, the fine is $2,000 and the driving privilege is suspended for 20 years (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.4a).

* Allowing another motorist, who is currently suspended for driving under the influence or operating while suspended, to operate his/her vehicle. The result may be a loss of driving and/or registration privileges (N.J.S.A. 39:3-40).

* Loaning a license to another motorist. He/she may be fined $200 to $500, face jail time and face a suspension of license.

* Having another person take the driving test. Motorist may be fined $200 to $500 and/or imprisonment from 30 to 90 days. The driver license may also be revoked (N.J.S.A. 39:3-37 and 39:3-37.1).

* Failing to appear at any scheduled court proceeding when charged with a non-indictable criminal offense, an ordinance violation or a motor vehicle offense. It will result in a court-ordered driver license suspension until the pending matter is settled (2B:12-31).

* Failing to meet the conditions of a sentence imposed (such as to pay a fine, make restitution or perform community service). It will result in a court-ordered driver license suspension (2B:12-31)

* Failing to pay a total of six months’ court-ordered child support or provide health insurance. If a child support-related warrant exists in the motorist’s name, the courts can order basic and commercial driver licenses and professional occupational licenses to be suspended until payments are made (N.J.S.A. 2A:17-56.44).

* A boater convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) on New Jersey’s waterways. He/she will be suspended from both boating and all driver license privileges and be fined $250 to $400 for the first offense, $500 to $1,000 for the second offense and $1,000 for the third offense. Violators under 17 years of age will have their vehicle and moped license privileges delayed for three months, six months and two years for first, second and third offenses, respectively (N.J.S.A. 12:7-46).

Driving under the influence (DUI) convictions:

* A motorist caught with a passenger under 18 years of age at the time of the violation will face a disorderly persons offense, will receive suspension of driving privileges for not more than six months and will perform up to five days of community service (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.15).

If an individual:

* Is at least 13 years old but under 18 years of age, he/she may have driving privileges suspended or postponed for a graffiti conviction (N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-43.3).

* Sets false alarms and is under 21 years of age, moped or other motor vehicle privileges will be suspended or postponed for six months. If under 17 years of age at the time of conviction, driving privileges will be suspended immediately and until six months after the day the person reaches 17 years of age. Additionally, the courts may apply civil penalties (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3.1).

Driver Improvement Program

Motorists who accumulate between 12 and 14 points in a 24-month period will receive a Notice of Scheduled Suspension by mail from the MVC.

Upon receiving the notice, a motorist can do one of the following:

* Attend a New Jersey Driver Improvement Program

* Request a hearing

* Surrender his/her driver license for the suspension period

The MVC Chief Administrator or an administrative law judge will determine if driving privileges should be suspended for a motorist who is granted a hearing. A motorist who successfully completes a Driver Improvement Program will have three points removed from his/her record (N.J.S.A. 39:5-30.9). The class fee is $100 (N.J.A.C. 13:19-10.3(c). After completion of a Driver Improvement Program or after restoration of a motorist’s driving privilege, he/she will be in a probationary period for one year. Any violations that occur during this probationary period will result in a scheduled suspension of the motorist’s driving privileges.

Defensive Driving Courses

Most road collisions are caused by motorist error. To reduce the likelihood of being involved in a collision, a motorist needs to understand the concept of defensive driving. These voluntary courses provide a motorist with standard collision-preventing techniques. Upon completion of the defensive driving course:

* Two points will be removed from the accumulated points currently on a driver license (N.J.S.A. 39:5-30.9).

* The motorist may qualify for an insurance rate reduction. Contact an insurance agent for more information.

* The MVC will only recognize a defensive driving course once every five years for point reduction (N.J.S.A. 39:5-30.9).

For a list of state-approved defensive driving courses, Check Department of Banking and Insurance.

Probationary Driver Program

A motorist begins a two-year probationary driver period after receiving a special learner or examination permit. During this probationary period, a motorist convicted of two or more moving violations totaling four or more points must enroll in the Probationary Driver School Program, which is administered by the MVC (N.J.A.C. 13:19-10.3(d). The attendance fee is $100 for this program, which corrects improper or dangerous driving habits (N.J.A.C. 13:19-10.3f).

Completion of this program will result in a three-point reduction on an individual motorist’s history record. Failure to complete the program or conviction of one or more subsequent moving violations during the test period will result in a suspension of driving privileges.

Mature Driver Program

A mature driver should constantly re-evaluate his/her driving skills. Driver improvement courses are available to mature drivers at various driving schools or through specific organizations.

For example, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) offers 55 Alive, a motorist improvement course that is specially designed for motorists age 50 and older. The eight-hour course helps motorists refine existing skills and develop safe defensive driving techniques. An added bonus is that in New Jersey, the course may qualify motorists who successfully complete the course to a minimum five percent vehicle insurance discount.