Bill > A5066

Introduced Session

This bill establishes criminal penalties for driving in violation of the State's probationary driver's license restrictions in certain circumstances involving death, serious bodily injury, and bodily injury. Under the provisions of the bill, a person is guilty of vehicular homicide if the person is determined to be at fault for a motor vehicle accident that occurs while the person is driving a vehicle in violation of the probationary driver's license restrictions and the motor vehicle accident causes the death of another. Vehicular homicide committed in violation of the bill is a crime of the second degree. Additionally, the bill provides that a person is guilty of assault by auto if the person is determined to be at fault for a motor vehicle accident that occurs while the person is driving a vehicle in violation of the State probationary driver's license restrictions and the motor vehicle accident causes bodily injury or serious bodily injury to another. Under the bill, assault by auto is a crime of the fourth degree if serious bodily injury results and a disorderly persons offense if bodily injury results. Under current law, a driver with a probationary driver's license who is under the age of 21 is restricted from driving with more than one passenger, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, and driving between the hours of 11:01 p.m. and 5:00 am, with certain exceptions. The bill is designated as "Daniel Kearney's Law" in honor of Daniel Kearney, a 19 year-old resident of West Milford, New Jersey who tragically died as a passenger in a single vehicle motor vehicle accident on September 3, 2021. The operator of the vehicle was under 21, driving with a probationary driver's license, and had two passengers in the vehicle at the time of accident.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Christian Barranco (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee (on 12/09/2024)

Official Document