New Jersey Auto Driving Laws

Driving is a privilege. It is not a right. If you do not obey New Jersey driving law, you may have your driver license taken away (suspended), so that you may not drive for a stated period of time.

Fines and imprisonment may also be imposed for moving violations of New Jersey traffic laws. License restoration depends on the types of offenses and the number of convictions.

Motor vehicle laws also cover moped drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Anyone who commits a motor vehicle offense on a moped, skate, bike, or while walking is subject to motor vehicle penalties and may be scheduled for a hearing in municipal court.

Penalties and Fines: Point System (Moving Violations)

Under New Jersey driving law, any driver who is convicted of a moving violation, including offenses committed while operating a motorized bicycle, will be assessed points for each conviction of New Jersey traffic laws in accordance with the NJSA Point Schedule.

Interstate Compacts

New Jersey belongs to two Interstate Compacts. Member states exchange information to ensure driver compliance with the law and that they receive penalties for violations.

The Nonresident Violator Compact includes 44 states* and the District of Columbia, assures nonresident motorists the same rights and privileges as resident motorists, requires drivers to fulfill the terms of traffic citations received in member states or face the possibility of license suspension in their home state, provides that nonresident drivers have due process protection and cannot be detained out-of-state.

*Alaska, California, Michigan, Montana, Oregon and Wisconsin are not members.

Note: The compact does not apply to parking or standing violations, highway weight limit violations, and violations of Hazmat transportation laws.

The National Driver License Compact exchanges violation information with other states* and the District of Columbia, ensures that out-of-state violations become part of your NJ driving record. Two points are assessed for each moving violation.

*Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Tennessee and Wisconsin are not members.

Point Violation Notices

Under New Jersey driving law, MVC will automatically send an Advisory Notice if your point total is between 6 and 11. For a total of 12 or more points, MVC will issue an automatic Notice of Scheduled Suspension.

Points Remain on your Driver History Record

Under New Jersey driving law, even after your license is restored, all point violations remain on your permanent Driver History Record. However, this record differs from your current driver status; your current status equals the point total minus the point credit deductions.

Surcharges

New Jersey driving law stipulates that if you are assigned points on your Driver License, you will have to pay point surcharges (see below) in addition to any court-imposed fines and penalties.

Surcharges remain operational as long as a motorist has six or more points on record resulting from violations of New Jersey traffic laws posted in the preceding three years.

The point total is based on the date the violations are posted to your record, not the date when the violations occurred.

In accordance with New Jersey driving law, if the surcharge is not paid, MVC will suspend all driving privileges indefinitely and take judgment action filed in the state Superior Court, which may include securing a lien against any real property that you own, a garnishment of your wages, or other similar actions.

Point surcharges:

• $100 for six points, and
• $25 for each additional point