Traffic Laws – Chapter 7

1. Traffic Laws – Chapter 7 Remember: Driving is a privilege, NOT A RIGHT!! The length of your suspension depends on the laws that you break!! BE RESPONSIBLE!!

2. Some Reasons for License Loss • Failure to appear in court to pay fines. • Failure to pay surcharges. • Driving while license is suspended/at fault in a fatal accident • No insurance/no registration. • Drug or alcohol use. • Repeated traffic law violations.

3. Underage Drinking • If someone, under 21 years old, buys or drinks alcohol in a place that holds a liquor license he/she may be fined $500 and lose your license up to 6 months.

4. Drinking or drug using, not driving, & you’re under 21, is it worth it???? • Other possible penalties… • 15 to 30 days- community service • IDRC or some type of alcohol safety program

5. Vocabulary • * IDRC • Intoxicated Driver Resource Center- • alcohol and highway education program • * AERF • Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Fund • * Ignition Interlock Device • Device that is attached to the vehicle with a built-in Breathalyzer and prevents the vehicle from starting if the motorist’s BAC exceeds .05 percent

6. 21 or Over andFirst offense with a BAC .08% to .10% • 3-month suspension of driving privilege • $250 to $400 fine • 12- to 48-hour participation in an (IDRC) • $230 per day IDRC fee • Up to 30 days imprisonment • $100 Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund • $100 (AERF) • $1,000 annual surcharge for three years • $75 Safe Neighborhood Services Fund • Possible interlock device requirement for six months to one year

7. Under 21 with a BAC of .01% and/or Over 21 with a BAC .10% or more (Refusal of Breath test) • 7-month to 1-year suspension of driving privilege • $300 to $500 fine • 12- to 48-hour participation in (IDRC) • $230 per day IDRC fee • Up to 30 days imprisonment • $100 Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund fee • $100 Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund fee • $1,000 annual surcharge for three years • $75 Safe Neighborhood Services Fund fee • Possible interlock device requirement for six months to one year

9. Breath Test • Suspicion of driving under the influence following police arrest. • Agree to breath test, Implied Consent Law. • Motorists who refuse to take a breath test will be detained and brought to a hospital, where hospital staff may draw blood and will serve: • First offense/BAC .10% or more

10. Intoxicated Driver Resource Centers • Convicted of alcohol related traffic offense? Must be detained at the IDRC. • Each of New Jersey’s 21 counties has an IDRC • 1st and 3rd-time offenders are detained at a county IDRC. • 2nd-time offenders are detained at one of three regional IDRCs. • The IDRC evaluates the offender and provides alcohol and highway safety education. • Failure to comply will result in : further loss of driving privileges and the possibility of imprisonment.

11. Need to Drive to Work? There are no conditional or special work licenses in New Jersey. If you lose your license for a drunk driving or any other violation, you may not drive regardless of the type of job that you have, until your suspension ends….NO EXCEPTIONS!!

12. Other Violations • Unsafe driving (damage to others or property • Reckless driving • Abandoning a vehicle • Open beverages • Not removing snow and ice • Speeding in construction or 65 mph zones • Failure to comply (not illuminating driver’s compartment when stopped by police officer) • Insurance fraud • Drug offenses • Hit-and-Run • Lying on application for license or registration • Forgery/Fraud • Driving while suspended

13. Driver Programs • Driver Improvement Program – A Motorists who accumulate between 12 and 14 points in a 24-month period will receive a Notice of Scheduled Suspension by mail from the MVC • a. Attend NJ driver improvement program; or • b. Ask for a hearing; or • c. Turn in your license for the suspension period. • 3 points removed if successfully completed. • Defensive Driving Program • a. Deduct 2 points after successfully completing. (Only 1 course every 5 years) • b. Insurance will decrease.

14. Driver Programs 3. Probationary Driver Program –purpose is to correct improper driving tactics while a driver still has their permit or provisional/examination license. a. Must enroll if convicted of 2 or more moving violations with 4 or more points within probation period. b. Completion of this program will result in a three-point reduction on an individual motorist’s history record

15. Point System • Motor vehicle can track your driving record thru point system. • +2 points = violations from other states. • -3 points=each year a driver is violation free. • Point total never goes below “0”.

16. Driving on private property……………….2pts. • Failure to yield to passing vehicle………...2pts. • Failure to yield to pedestrians……………..2pts. • Improper turns……………………………..3pts. • Speeding:15-29 mph above limit………….4pts. • Improper passing of school bus…………...5pts. • Racing on highway/reckless driving………5pts. • Leaving scene of accident (injury)…...……8pts. Point Values

17. Restoring License *Any violation after completing Driver Improvement or Probationary Driver programs will result in your license being suspended. *Length of suspension will depend on how soon you break a traffic law after MVC restores your license. *$100 to restore your license.

18. Surcharges for Violations • *If you get 6 or more points in 3 years or less: • -subject to surcharge of $150 for 6 points and $25 for each additional point. • *Unlicensed Driver = $100 surcharge. • *No Liability Insurance = $250 surcharge. • Failure to pay surcharge = Indefinite Suspension.

19. Habitual Offender A person with 3 license suspensions for violations that happened within 3 years, may lose his/her license for up to 3 years. Enjoy your walk to work!!!