Seat Belt Laws: New Jersey
Type of Law
Primary; Secondary for rear seat occupants
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.
New Jersey
Drowsy Driving Law
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).
New Jersey
Bike helmets required?
Bicycle helmets required for all riders under 17.
New Jersey
Motorcycle Helmet Required?
Universal helmet law enacted 1968.
New Jersey
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle
4 years
New Jersey
Provisions for Mature Drivers
None
New Jersey
DUID Zero Tolerance or Per se Laws for Some Drugs
None
New Jersey
Marijuana Possession and Use
Legal for medical use
New Jersey
Marijuana Impaired Driving
None
New Jersey
Rural Interstates: Cars (MPH)
65
New Jersey
Rural Interstates: Trucks (MPH)
65
New Jersey
Urban Interstates: Cars (MPH)
55
New Jersey
Urban Interstates: Trucks (MPH)
55
New Jersey
Other Limited Access Roads: Cars (MPH)
65
New Jersey
Other Limited Access Roads: Trucks (MPH)
65
New Jersey
Open container laws
Yes
New Jersey
Repeat Offender Laws
Yes
New Jersey
Increased penalty for high BAC
0.1
New Jersey
Administrative license suspension on first offense
3 months
New Jersey
Limited driving privileges during suspension
None
New Jersey
Ignition Interlocks
Mandatory for all convictions
New Jersey
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
New Jersey
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
8 yrs or older or over 57"
New Jersey
Full Privilege Minimum Age
18 years
New Jersey
Learner Stage: Minimum Age (Years/Months)
16
New Jersey
Learner Stage: Minimum Duration (Months)
6
New Jersey
Learner Stage: Supervised Driving Hours (Night Hours in Parenthesis)
None
New Jersey
Intermediate Stage: Minimum Age (Years/Months)
17
New Jersey
Intermediate Stage: Nighttime Driving Restriction
11 p.m. - 5 a.m.
New Jersey
Intermediate Stage: Passenger Restrictions (Except Family, Unless Noted)
No more than 1 (exception limited to drivers' dependents)
New Jersey
Type of Law
Primary; Secondary for rear seat occupants
New Jersey
Who is Covered?
7 and under and more than 57 inches tall 8 and over
New Jersey
In What Seat?
All
New Jersey
Hand-Held Ban?
Yes. Primary law.
New Jersey
All Cell Phone Ban? School Bus Drivers
Yes. Primary law.
New Jersey
All Cell Phone Ban? Novice Drivers
Drivers with permit or provisional license. Primary law.
New Jersey
Text Messaging Ban?
All drivers. Primary law.
New Jersey
Speed Cameras: State Law
Prohibited
New Jersey
Speed Cameras: Where Permitted
n/a
New Jersey
Red Light Cameras: State Law
None
New Jersey
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted
n/a
Distracted Driving Laws: New Jersey
Hand-Held Ban?
Yes. Primary law.
Speed and Red Light Cameras: New Jersey
Speed Cameras
Prohibited
Red Light Cameras
None
Work Zone Traffic Laws: New Jersey
Violations Affected
All moving vehicle violations
Enhanced Penalties
Double original fine
Workers Must Be Present?
No
Signs Must Be Present?
Yes