New Jersey

GHSA maintains data on state laws surrounding a number of highway safety issues. Below is information regarding laws in the state of New Jersey. For more information, consult the State Highway Safety Office.

  • Alcohol Impaired Driving

    Penalties

    Increased Penalty for High BAC Administrative License Suspension on First Offense Limited Driving Privileges During Suspension
    .10 3 months  

    Ignition Interlocks

    Mandatory for all convictions

    Other

    Open Container Laws Repeat Offender Laws
    Yes Yes

     

  • Bicyclists and Pedestrians

    Bicycle helmets required for all riders under 17.

  • Child Passenger Safety

    Child Restraint Required

    Under 2 yrs and under 30 lbs in rear-facing seat

    Under 4 yrs and under 40 lbs until height or weight limit reached in child safety seat

    Under 8 yrs and shorter than 57" in forward-facing child safety seat or booster seat until height or weight limit reached in rear seat if available

    Adult Safety Belt Permissible

    8 yrs or older or over 57"

  • Distracted Driving

    Hand-Held Ban?

    Yes. Primary law.

    All Cell Phone Ban?

    School Bus Drivers

    Yes. Primary law.

    Novice Drivers

    Drivers with permit or provisional license. Primary law.

    Text Messaging Ban?

    All drivers. Primary law.

  • Drowsy Driving

    AKA "Maggie’s Law," effective 2003. Statute deems driving “while knowingly fatigued as recklessness” and defines fatigued as “being without sleep for a period in excess of 24 consecutive hours.” (New Jersey Legislature, 2002).

  • Drug Impaired Driving

    DUID Zero Tolerance or Per se Laws for Some Drugs

    • None

    Marijuana-Specific Laws

    • Possession and Use: Decriminalized and legal for recreational and medical use
    • Impaired Driving: None
  • Mature Drivers

    Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

    4 years

    Provisions for Mature Drivers

    None

  • Motorcyclists

    Universal helmet law enacted 1968.

  • Seat Belts

    Type of Law

    Primary; Secondary for rear seat occupants

    Who Is Covered?

    7 and under and more than 57 inches tall

    8 and over

    In What Seat?

    All

  • Speed and Red Light Cameras

    Speed Cameras

    Prohibited

    Red Light Cameras

    No state law or programs

  • Speeding and Aggressive Driving

    Rural Interstates

    Cars (MPH) Trucks (MPH)
    65 65

    Urban Interstates

    Cars (MPH) Trucks (MPH)
    55 55

    Other Limited Access Roads

    Cars (MPH) Trucks (MPH)
    65 65
  • Teen and Novice Drivers

    Full Privilege Minimum Age

    18 years

    Learner Stage

    Minimum Age (Years/Months)

    Minimum Duration (Months)

    Required Supervised Driving Hours (Night Hours)
    16 6 None

    Intermediate Stage

    Minimum Age (Years/Months)

    		 Nighttime Driving Restriction

    Passenger Restriction (except family, unless noted)
    17 11 p.m. - 5 a.m. No more than 1 (exception limited to drivers' dependents)