Bill > S4131

Introduced Session

This bill establishes the "Uniform Crime Investigation Protocol Task Force" to establish a uniform crash investigation protocol for State, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies when investigating certain motor vehicle and vessel crashes. The bill establishes a task force known as the "Uniform Crash Investigation Protocol Task Force" to establish a uniform crash investigation protocol for every State, county, and municipal law enforcement agency to follow in every case where a motor vehicle or vessel crash involving a fatality or serious injury occurred and the law enforcement agency determines that at least one of the following criteria are known or suspected: 1) alcohol; 2) drugs; 3) excessive speed which is above the speed limit or too fast for existing conditions; 4) distracted driving, including the use of a wireless device or electronic communication device, 5) hit and run; 6) two or more moving violations; 7) a person with a revoked or suspended operator's license; 8) a pursuit where the pursued party causes death or serious injury; 9) an emergency vehicle is involved or was responding to an emergency call; 10) multiple fatalities or serious injuries to more than one person, including the operator or passenger of any motor vehicle or vessel involved in the crash or a pedestrian; 11) purposeful use of a vehicle or vessel to inflict death or injury; 12) any other evidence of reckless operation, regardless of whether there is a known risk or deviation from the conduct of a reasonably prudent person; 13) an active bench warrant that was issued for the operator of the motor vehicle or vessel that is related to a motor vehicle offense; or 14) the operator of a motor vehicle involved in the crash has previously been involved in a crash resulting in a fatality or serious injury to another person. The task force is to consist of the following seven members: 1) the Attorney General or a designee, who shall serve ex-officio; 2) the Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety or a designee, who shall serve ex-officio; 3) three public members with experience investigating motor vehicle crashes, upon recommendation by the New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association, the New Jersey State Fraternal Order of Police, and the State Troopers Fraternal Association; and 4) two public members with experience prosecuting cases involving motor vehicle or vessel crashes, upon recommendation of the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey and the New Jersey State Municipal Prosecutors' Association of New Jersey. All appointments are to be made by the Governor. Under the bill, a report containing the uniform crash investigation protocol established by the task force is required to be submitted to the Attorney General, who is to issue an Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive consistent with the uniform crash investigation protocol established by the task force, no later than one year after the appointment of all of the members of the task force. In addition, the bill provides that after submission of the report to the Attorney General, the task force is required to meet two times per year for the purpose of receiving feedback on the implementation of the uniform crash investigation protocol established by the task force. In addition, the bill requires the task force to hold three public hearings and update the uniform crash investigation protocols as necessary, with an updated report being submitted to the Attorney General. The Attorney General is to revise the Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive regarding the uniform crash investigation protocol as appropriate.

Committee Categories

Vin Gopal (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee (on 11/12/2021)