39:2-3.8 Electronic, digital processing of motor vehicle transactions.

1. a. Whenever any law, rule or regulation requires or permits documents or information to be prepared by or submitted to the Division of Motor Vehicles in the Department of Transportation, the director may permit the documents or information to be prepared by or submitted to the division in electronic or digital form, or processed electronically. In no event shall an individual be required to submit documents or information only in electronic or digital form; nor shall documents or information be made available to an individual only in electronic or digital form. Submission in electronic or digital form may be permitted pursuant to this section notwithstanding that any law, rule or regulation requires documents or information to be written or to be submitted in writing, specifies that documents or information be signed, certified, verified or witnessed, or otherwise explicitly or implicitly requires the preparation or submission of documents or information on paper or in written form. As used in this subsection, "individual" means a natural person.

b. The director, after consultation with the State Records Committee in the Department of State, shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), regulations specifying how the signature, verification, certification, witnessing or other formal requirements shall be met with respect to documents or information permitted to be prepared or submitted in electronic or digital form pursuant to this section and specifying such additional safeguards as the director deems necessary to protect the privacy, and prevent improper access to or disclosure, of any personal information as defined in section 1 of P.L.1997, c.188 (C.39:2-3.3) that may be transmitted in an electronic or digital form, or processed electronically. Regulations adopted pursuant to this subsection may permit the use of digital signature technology for the signing of documents and other appropriate purposes.

L.1999,c.149,s.1.