39:4-203.5 Offenses in area of highway construction, repair or designated safe corridor.

1. a. For the purposes of this act:

"Area of highway construction or repair" means that segment of any highway which is identified by properly posted traffic control devices or signs as undergoing construction, reconstruction, repair, or maintenance operation. An area of highway construction or repair shall consist of that area between the first traffic control device or sign informing motor vehicle operators of their approaching highway construction or repair and the last traffic control device or sign indicating all restrictions are removed and normal motor vehicle operations may resume.

"Highway" means any highway under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation, a county, a municipality, or a toll road authority.

"Safe corridor" or "safe corridor area" means a segment of highway under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation which, based upon accident rates, fatalities, traffic volume and other highway traffic safety criteria, is identified by the Commissioner of Transportation as a segment warranting designation as a "safe corridor."

"Toll road authority" means the New Jersey Turnpike Authority or the South Jersey Transportation Authority.

b. The fine for a motor vehicle offense embodied in the following sections of statutory law, when committed in an area of highway construction or repair, or when committed in a designated safe corridor, shall be double the amount specified by law:

Subsection b. of R.S.39:3-20;

R.S.39:4-52;

R.S.39:4-57;

R.S.39:4-71;

R.S.39:4-80;

R.S.39:4-81;

R.S.39:4-82;

R.S.39:4-83;

R.S.39:4-84;

R.S.39:4-85;

R.S.39:4-86;

R.S.39:4-88;

R.S.39:4-89;

R.S.39:4-90;

R.S.39:4-96;

R.S.39:4-97;

R.S.39:4-98;

R.S.39:4-99;

R.S.39:4-105;

R.S.39:4-115;

R.S.39:4-119;

R.S.39:4-122;

R.S.39:4-123;

R.S.39:4-124;

R.S.39:4-125;

R.S.39:4-127;

R.S.39:4-129;

R.S.39:4-144;

P.L.1955, c.217 (C.39:5C-1);

Section 48 of P.L.1951, c.23 (C.39:4-66.1);

Section 41 of P.L.1951, c.23 (C.39:4-82.1);

Section 51 of P.L.1951, c.23 (C.39:4-90.1);

Section 1 of P.L.2000, c.75 (C.39:4-97.2);

Section 6 of P.L.1997, c.415 (C.39:4-98.7);

Section 5 of P.L.1951, c.264 (C.27:23-29);

Section 18 of P.L.1952, c.16 (C.27:12B-18); and

Section 21 of P.L.1991, c.252 (C.27:25A-21).

When an area of highway construction or repair is within a safe corridor, the fine for a motor vehicle offense embodied in the preceding sections of statutory law shall be doubled only once. When a safe corridor is within an area of highway construction or repair, the fine for a motor vehicle offense embodied in the preceding sections of statutory law shall be doubled only once. Fines for violation of section 6 of P.L.1997, c.415 (C.39:4-98.7) in a safe corridor or an area of highway construction or repair shall be doubled only once. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the increase from the doubled fines imposed and collected in designated safe corridor areas shall be forwarded by the person to whom they are paid to the State Treasurer, who shall annually deposit those moneys in the "Highway Safety Fund" established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2003, c.131 (C.39:3-20.4).

c. (1) Signs designed in compliance with the specifications of the Department of Transportation or, if appropriate, the toll road authority having jurisdiction over the appropriate highway, shall be appropriately placed, by order of the Commissioner of Transportation, the appropriate local official, or the affected toll road authority, as the case may be, to notify drivers approaching areas of highway construction or repair, or designated safe corridor areas, that the fines are doubled for motor vehicle offenses in those areas.

(2) In addition, all traffic control signs and devices erected or displayed by the State Department of Transportation, a county, a municipality or a toll road authority within an area of highway construction or repair or safe corridor area shall conform to the uniform system specified in the most current "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways," prepared by the Federal Highway Administration in the United States Department of Transportation.

d. It shall not be a defense to the imposition of the fines authorized under the provisions of P.L.1993, c.332 that a sign notifying drivers who are approaching highway construction or repair areas, or designated safe corridor areas, that fines are doubled for motor vehicle offenses in those areas was not posted, improperly posted, wrongfully removed or stolen, or that signs or devices were not placed in compliance with the most current "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways" as required pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection c. of this section.

e. The director shall include information concerning the penalties imposed pursuant to this act in any subsequent revision of the New Jersey Driver Manual and the New Jersey Motorist Guide.

f. Safe corridor areas shall be designated by traffic order issued pursuant to P.L.1998, c.28 (C.39:4-8.2 et seq.).

L.1993, c.332, s.1; amended 2003, c.131, s.1; 2013, c.253, s.23.