39:3-20 Commercial motor vehicle registrations; fees.

39:3-20. For the purpose of this section, gross weight means the weight of the vehicle or combination of vehicles, including load or contents.

a. The chief administrator is authorized to issue registrations for commercial motor vehicles other than omnibuses or motor-drawn vehicles upon application therefor and payment of a fee based on the gross weight of the vehicle, including the gross weight of all vehicles in any combination of vehicles of which the commercial motor vehicle is the drawing vehicle. The gross weight of a disabled commercial vehicle or combination of disabled commercial vehicles being removed from a highway shall not be included in the calculation of the registration fee for the drawing vehicle.

Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, every registration for a commercial motor vehicle other than an omnibus or motor-drawn vehicle shall expire and the certificate thereof shall become void on the last day of the twelfth calendar month following the month in which the certificate was issued; provided, however, that the chief administrator may require registrations which shall expire, and issue certificates thereof which shall become void, on a date fixed by the chief administrator, which shall not be sooner than three months or later than 26 months after the date of issuance of such certificates, and the fees for such registrations or registration applications, including any other fees or charges collected in connection with the registration fee, shall be fixed by the chief administrator in amounts proportionately less or greater than the fees established by law. The chief administrator may fix the expiration date for registration certificates at a date other than 12 months if the chief administrator determines that such change is necessary, appropriate or convenient in order to aid in implementing the vehicle inspection requirements of chapter 8 of Title 39 or for other good cause. The minimum registration fee shall be as follows:

(1) In the case of vehicles other than trucks transporting ready-mixed concrete, asphalt, stone, sand, gravel, clay and cleanfill:

For vehicles not in excess of 5,000 pounds, $53.50.

For vehicles in excess of 5,000 pounds and not in excess of 10,000 pounds, $53.50 plus $11.50 for each 1,000 pounds or portion thereof in excess of 5,000 pounds.

For vehicles in excess of 10,000 pounds and not in excess of 18,000 pounds, $53.50 plus $13.50 for each 1,000 pounds or portion thereof in excess of 5,000 pounds.

For vehicles in excess of 18,000 pounds and not in excess of 50,000 pounds, $53.50 plus $14.50 for each 1,000 pounds or portion thereof in excess of 5,000 pounds.

For vehicles in excess of 50,000 pounds, $53.50 plus $15.50 for each 1,000 pounds or portion thereof in excess of 5,000 pounds; and

(2) In the case of trucks transporting ready-mixed concrete, asphalt, stone, sand, gravel, clay and cleanfill:

For vehicles not in excess of 5,000 pounds, $53.50.

For vehicles in excess of 5,000 pounds and not in excess of 18,000 pounds, $53.50 plus $11.50 for each 1,000 pounds or portion thereof in excess of 5,000 pounds.

For vehicles in excess of 18,000 pounds and not in excess of 50,000 pounds, $53.50 plus $12.50 for each 1,000 pounds or portion thereof in excess of 5,000 pounds.

For vehicles in excess of 50,000 pounds, $53.50 plus $13.50 for each 1,000 pounds or portion thereof in excess of 5,000 pounds.

b. The chief administrator is also authorized to issue registrations for commercial motor vehicles having three or more axles and a gross weight over 40,000 pounds but not exceeding 70,000 pounds, upon application therefor and proof to the satisfaction of the chief administrator that the applicant is actually engaged in construction work or in the business of supplying material, transporting material, or using such registered vehicle for construction work.

Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, every registration for these commercial motor vehicles shall expire and the certificate thereof shall become void on the last day of the twelfth calendar month following the month in which the certificate was issued; provided, however, that the chief administrator may require registrations which shall expire, and issue certificates thereof which shall become void on a date fixed by the chief administrator, which shall not be sooner than three months or later than 26 months after the date of issuance of such certificates, and the fees for such registrations or registration applications, including any other fees or charges collected in connection with the registration fee, shall be fixed by the chief administrator in amounts proportionately less or greater than the fees established by law. The chief administrator may fix the expiration date for registration certificates at a date other than 12 months if the chief administrator determines that such change is necessary, appropriate or convenient in order to aid in implementing the vehicle inspection requirements of chapter 8 of Title 39 or for other good cause.

The registration fee shall be $22.50 for each 1,000 pounds or portion thereof.

For purposes of calculating this fee, weight means the gross weight, including the gross weight of all vehicles in any combination of which such commercial motor vehicle is the drawing vehicle.

Such commercial motor vehicle shall be operated in compliance with the speed limitations of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes and shall not be operated at a speed greater than 45 miles per hour when one or more of its axles has a load which exceeds the limitations prescribed in R.S.39:3-84.

c. The chief administrator is also authorized to issue registrations for each of the following solid waste vehicles: two-axle vehicles having a gross weight not exceeding 42,000 pounds; tandem three-axle and four-axle vehicles having a gross weight not exceeding 60,000 pounds; four-axle tractor-trailer combination vehicles having a gross weight not exceeding 60,000 pounds. Registration is based upon application to the chief administrator and proof to his satisfaction that the applicant is actually engaged in the performance of solid waste disposal or collection functions and holds a certificate of convenience and necessity therefor issued by the Department of Environmental Protection.

Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, every registration for a solid waste vehicle shall expire and the certificate thereof shall become void on the last day of the twelfth calendar month following the month in which the certificate was issued.

The registration fee shall be $50 plus $11.50 for each 1,000 pounds or portion thereof in excess of 5,000 pounds.

d. The chief administrator is also authorized to issue registrations for commercial motor-drawn vehicles upon application therefor. The registration year for commercial motor-drawn vehicles shall be April 1 to the following March 31 and the fee therefor shall be $18 for each such vehicle.

At the discretion of the chief administrator, an applicant for registration for a commercial motor-drawn vehicle may be provided the option of registering such vehicle for a period of four years. In the event that the applicant for registration exercises the four-year option, a fee of $64 for each such vehicle shall be paid to the chief administrator in advance.

If any commercial motor-drawn vehicle registered for a four-year period is sold or withdrawn from use on the highways, the chief administrator may, upon surrender of the vehicle registration and plate, refund $16 for each full year of unused prepaid registration.

e. It shall be unlawful for any vehicle or combination of vehicles registered under this act, having a gross weight, including load or contents, in excess of the gross weight provided on the registration certificate to be operated on the highways of this State.

The owner, lessee, bailee or any one of the aforesaid of a vehicle or combination of vehicles, including load or contents, found or operated on any public road, street or highway or on any public or quasi-public property in this State with a gross weight of that vehicle or combination of vehicles, including load or contents, in excess of the weight limitation permitted by the certificate of registration for the vehicle or combination of vehicles, pursuant to the provisions of this section, shall be assessed a penalty of $500 plus an amount equal to $100 for each 1,000 pounds or fractional portion of 1,000 pounds of weight in excess of the weight limitation permitted by the certificate of registration for that vehicle or combination of vehicles. A vehicle or combination of vehicles for which there is no valid certificate of registration is deemed to have been registered for zero pounds for the purposes of the enforcement of this act, in addition to any other violation of this Title, but is not deemed to be lawfully or validly registered pursuant to the provisions of this Title.

This section shall not be construed to supersede or repeal the provisions of section 39:3-84, 39:4-75, or 39:4-76 of this Title.

f. Of the registration fees collected by the chief administrator pursuant to this section for vehicles with gross vehicle weights in excess of 5,000 pounds, an amount equal to $3 per 1,000 pounds or portion thereof in excess of 5,000 pounds for each registration shall be forwarded to the State Treasurer for deposit in the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Fund established pursuant to section 17 of P.L.1995, c.157 (C.39:8-75). Moneys in the fund shall be used by the Department of Law and Public Safety and the Department of Transportation for enforcement of laws and regulations governing commercial motor vehicles.

Amended 1946, c.46, s.1; 1950, c.142, s.1; 1960, c.12; 1961, c.113, s.1; 1962, c.155, s.1; 1963, c.166, s.1; 1966, c.209, s.2; 1968, c.130, s.6; 1972, c.55; 1973, c.138; 1973, c.373, s.1; 1975, c.92, s.2; 1975, c.180, s.6; 1977, c.51, s.1; 1979, c.162; 1981, c.554, s.1; 1983, c.349, s.1; 1984, c.73, s.32; 1994, c.60, s.32; 1995, c.112, s.29; 1995, c.157, s.34; 1997, c.313; 2002, c.34, s.13; 2005, c.214.