NJ bill would broaden tinted vehicle window exemptions for elected officials, law enforcement and families
TRENTON, N.J. — A New Jersey lawmaker has introduced legislation that would allow certain elected officials, law enforcement officers and other covered individuals and their family members to apply for permission to have tinted windshields and windows on their vehicles.
Assembly Bill 5547, sponsored by Assemblyman Kenyatta Stewart, D-Bergen and Passaic, was introduced Sept. 24 and referred to the Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee.
Under the bill, eligible elected officials would include New Jersey’s governor, U.S. senators representing the state and members of the U.S. House of Representatives elected from New Jersey.
The legislation would also apply to active, formerly active or retired judicial officers, law enforcement officers, prosecutors and child protective investigators in the Division of Child Protection and Permanency. Immediate family members living in the same household as those covered individuals would also be eligible.
In a statement to RNJ, Stewart said the legislation is intended to provide additional protection for public officials and their families.
“In today’s world, the climate surrounding public officials has become increasingly extreme, with some individuals targeting officials over decisions they make in their official capacity. This bill is an extension of the protections afforded by Daniel’s Law to provide an additional layer of protection not only for public officials, but also for their families. It recognizes that individuals sometimes fail to distinguish between an adverse decision and the person responsible for carrying out that decision. I know firsthand of many officials who felt compelled to take different routes home from work because of concerns that they were being followed. We can also think about a judge presiding over a difficult custody dispute who must make a decision based on the law and facts before the court, only to have a party target the judge—or potentially their children—because they disagree with the outcome. This bill takes a preventative approach to give public officials and their families an additional layer of protection before something happens, rather than waiting to react after a threat becomes an incident.”
Current New Jersey law restricts tinting on windshields and front side windows that obstructs a driver’s view. The state does allow qualifying motorists to apply for a medical exemption for sun-screening material on windshields and front side windows for certain medical conditions involving sensitivity to light.
A5547 would create an additional exemption for the elected officials and other covered individuals included in the legislation.
Under the proposal, the owner or lessee of a vehicle driven by or regularly used to transport an eligible person could apply to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission’s chief administrator for permission to have the windshield and windows covered with tinted material or film.
The tint would be permitted to allow only the minimum light transmittance required under federal law.
Applicants would be required to submit a written certification showing they are eligible, along with government-issued identification or other proof accepted by the MVC chief administrator.
Those approved would receive a card authorizing the tinted windows. The card would be valid for no more than 48 months and would have to be shown to a law enforcement officer upon request.
A person who fails to display the required card would face a $100 fine. However, a municipal court judge could dismiss the charge if the person provides a card that was valid on the date of the alleged violation, although court costs could still be imposed.
The bill would take effect immediately if enacted.
