New N.J. residents, register that car
Monday, June 25, 2007
By SEAN C. McCULLEN
smccullen@sjnewsco.com

http://www.nj.com/news/bridgeton/index. ... ml&coll=10

TRENTON -- A bill intended to help make roadways in the state a little safer, specifically in cities like Bridgeton that have been magnets for illegal immigrants, was approved by the Assembly and Senate on Friday.

The bill, if signed into law by Gov. Jon Corzine, as is expected, would result in new state residents having to register their vehicles with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) within 60 days of moving to the state.

Bridgeton was cited by the bill's sponsors -- 3rd District Assemblymen John Burzichelli and Doug Fisher, 1st District Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Jeff Van Drew, and 33rd District Assemblyman Brian Stack -- as one of several small towns and cities plagued by hit-and-run accidents involving illegal motorists, many of whom are in the country illegally and cannot legally obtain a license or register and insure their cars in New Jersey.

"It's a simple thing, really. If you live in New Jersey and you drive in New Jersey, you should be required to register you car in New Jersey. End of story," Fisher, a former Bridgeton city councilman, said in a press release issued by Assembly Democrats on Friday.

While current law requires state residents, as well as non-residents whose vehicles primarily are driven on state roadways, to register their cars with the state MVC, it extends "touring privileges" to new residents whose vehicles remain registered in another state -- a provision lawmakers say amounts to unlimited "grace time" to switch to New Jersey registration.

The legislation would expressly require new residents to register their vehicles with the state MVC within 60 days of moving here, eliminating the gray area or loophole in the current law regarding new residents' registration.

Violators would face fines up to $250 for a first offense, and up to $500 for second and subsequent offenses under the legislation.

Also, violators would have their vehicles impounded for at least four days for third and subsequent offenses.

Many people who move to New Jersey or drive in the state maintain their registrations in other states where, state lawmakers say, insurance requirements and driving-record restrictions are more lax.

It's also apparently still easier for illegal immigrants to register their vehicles in other states, with Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and North Carolina topping the list of out-of-state plates frequently seen in Bridgeton, and elsewhere. This is often done under bogus names or home addresses, leaving police here with no effective way to positively identify those illegal motorists involved in accidents or stopped for violations.

"When someone stopped in New Jersey has an out-of-state license from one state and an out-of-state registration from another state, it becomes extremely difficult for police to know at what address, if any, the person actually resides," Van Drew said. "This further complicates filing of insurance claims, sending court summonses, and generally makes the process of resolving an accident or traffic stop that much harder."

How effective the seemingly imminent new law is will depend on how proactive police are in enforcing it.

Van Drew said Friday that, under the bill, police would be able to pull over vehicles with out-of-state tags if they know their owners have been living in the state beyond 60 days; motorists would not have to commit another traffic offense in order for police to investigate them as violators of the new law.

Bridgeton's practice of requiring that tenants' license-plate numbers be included on rental registration forms should help its police department identify violators.

Van Drew said the new law "isn't perfect," but acknowledged it's "a step in the right direction."

Fisher admitted the bill would only be the first step in reducing hit-and-run accidents when he announced it last May, a week before he introduced it to the Assembly.

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