12:7-55 Implied consent.

7. a. (1) A person who operates a power vessel or a vessel which is 12 feet or greater in length on the waters of this State shall be deemed to have given his consent to the taking of samples of his breath for the purpose of making chemical tests to determine the content of alcohol in his blood, except that the taking of samples shall be made in accordance with the provisions of P.L.1986, c.39 and at the request of a member of the State Police or a law enforcement officer who has reasonable grounds to believe that the person has been operating a vessel in violation of the provisions of section 3 of P.L.1952, c.157 (C.12:7-46).

(2) Whenever an operator has been involved in an accident resulting in death, bodily injury or property damage, an officer shall consider that fact along with all other facts and circumstances in determining under paragraph (1) of this subsection whether there are reasonable grounds to believe a person is operating a vessel in violation of the provisions of section 3 of P.L.1952, c.157 (C.12:7-46).

b. A record of the taking of the sample, disclosing the date and time thereof, as well as the result of any chemical test, shall be made and a copy shall be furnished or made available to the person so tested, upon his request.

c. In addition to the samples taken and tests made at the direction of a member of the State Police or a law enforcement officer, the person tested shall be permitted to have samples taken and chemical tests of his breath, urine or blood made by a person or physician of his own selection.

d. A member of the State Police or a law enforcement officer shall inform the person tested of his rights under subsections b. and c. of this section.

e. No chemical test, as provided in this section, or specimen necessary for a test, may be made or taken forcibly and against physical resistance thereto by the defendant. A member of the State Police or a law enforcement officer shall, however, inform the person arrested of the consequences of refusing to submit to the test, in accordance with section 9 of P.L.1986, c.39 (C.12:7-57). A standard statement, prepared by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall be read by a member of the State Police or a law enforcement officer to the person under arrest.

L.1986,c.39,s.7; amended 1993, c.233; 1995, c.401, s.41; 2004, c.80, s.2.