DRIVER PRIVILEGES DRIVER PRIVILEGES & &

PENALTIESPENALTIES

CHAPTER 7CHAPTER 7

1)1) Driving is a privilege!Driving is a privilege!

• These laws are designed to protect every These laws are designed to protect every driver. driver. • Thorough knowledge of New Jersey’s Thorough knowledge of New Jersey’s traffic laws is necessary for every driver.traffic laws is necessary for every driver.

Depending on a driver’s history of traffic Depending on a driver’s history of traffic violations, a suspension or revocation of violations, a suspension or revocation of driving privileges could occur.driving privileges could occur.

Suspensions are decided on a case-by-case Suspensions are decided on a case-by-case basis.basis.

If the sentence is not mandatory, the Chief If the sentence is not mandatory, the Chief Administrator of Motor Vehicle Administrator of Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC), or courts, may Commission (MVC), or courts, may suspend driving privileges.suspend driving privileges.

2) You may lose your driving privileges: 2) You may lose your driving privileges:

Failure to appear in court Failure to appear in court Failure to pay surchargesFailure to pay surcharges Driving while suspended Driving while suspended Failure to provide proof of insurance Failure to provide proof of insurance Physical or mental disqualificationPhysical or mental disqualification Drug or alcohol use Drug or alcohol use Repeated traffic violationsRepeated traffic violations Reckless drivingReckless driving Vehicle abandonment on public highway Vehicle abandonment on public highway At fault in fatal accidentAt fault in fatal accident

3) MVC’s Chief Administrator 3) MVC’s Chief Administrator may require a: may require a:

• Re-examination for any driver considered Re-examination for any driver considered a problem drivera problem driver

• This re-examination will help to determine This re-examination will help to determine whether driving privileges will be whether driving privileges will be suspended.suspended.

4) Motorists 4) Motorists under 21 years oldunder 21 years old, the legal , the legal age in New Jersey to purchase and/or age in New Jersey to purchase and/or consume alcoholic beverages, found with a consume alcoholic beverages, found with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above .01 while operating a motor vehicle above .01 while operating a motor vehicle will be:will be:

•PENALIZEDPENALIZED

5) A .08 percent BAC is considered…..5) A .08 percent BAC is considered…..

• driving under the influence driving under the influence in New Jersey for motorists in New Jersey for motorists

21 years or older.21 years or older.

6) New Jersey has an:6) New Jersey has an:

• Implied Consent LawImplied Consent Law

7) Drivers on New Jersey roadways have 7) Drivers on New Jersey roadways have agreed, simply by using New Jersey agreed, simply by using New Jersey roadways, to submit to a….:roadways, to submit to a….:

• BREATH TEST given BREATH TEST given by law enforcement by law enforcement or hospital staff or hospital staff following an arrest following an arrest for a drinking and for a drinking and drivingdriving offense.offense.

8) Motorists refusing to 8) Motorists refusing to take a breath test will take a breath test will

be :be : detained anddetained and brought to a hospital, brought to a hospital,

where hospital staff may draw blood.where hospital staff may draw blood.

8) Motorist refusing a breath test in 8) Motorist refusing a breath test in New Jersey are subject to an…. New Jersey are subject to an….

• MVC insurance surcharge of MVC insurance surcharge of $1,000 a year for three years.$1,000 a year for three years.

8) Failure to pay this surcharge will 8) Failure to pay this surcharge will result in… result in…

• an indefinite driver license an indefinite driver license suspension until the fee is paid.suspension until the fee is paid.

9) 9) MVC keeps track of individual MVC keeps track of individual driving driving records through a…. records through a….

• point system that assigns point system that assigns points to each traffic points to each traffic violation,moving or violation,moving or other-wise.other-wise.

10) 10) The more serious the The more serious the violation, the…violation, the…

• more points added to a driver ’s record. more points added to a driver ’s record.

11) Up to 3 points will be subtracted 11) Up to 3 points will be subtracted from your point total…. from your point total….

• For every 12 consecutive months a motorist For every 12 consecutive months a motorist is not convicted of an offense or suspended. is not convicted of an offense or suspended.

• A point total will never be reduced below A point total will never be reduced below zero.zero.

12) Motorist accumulating 12 to 14 12) Motorist accumulating 12 to 14 points within 24 months points within 24 months will receive… will receive…

• a Notice of Scheduled Suspensions by mail a Notice of Scheduled Suspensions by mail from MVCfrom MVC

1313) Voluntary Defensive Driving ) Voluntary Defensive Driving Programs: Programs:

• Teach defensive driving skillsTeach defensive driving skills• Potentially reduce auto insurance ratesPotentially reduce auto insurance rates• Reduce a motorist’s driver history recordReduce a motorist’s driver history record

THE ENDTHE END