TRENTON, N.J. – Those whose licenses were suspended for mental or physical conditions would not have to pay a restoration fee under a bill released from the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee on Thursday.
The bill (A290), sponsored by Assemblymen Michael Torrissi and Brandon Umba, would require the state Motor Vehicle Commission to waive its standard $100 driver’s license restoration fee after a suspension. The state may suspend licenses of those who suffer from neurological and sleep conditions after a physician review.
“Only in New Jersey do we charge people for trying to get their drivers’ licenses back after they were suspended through no fault of their own,” Torrissi (R-Atlantic) said. “It’s one more burden placed on people whose lives have already been upended through losing their driving privileges. In no world should someone who suffers from a mental or physical condition be made to pay $100 to drive again once they are medically cleared.”
The assemblymen were contacted by a constituent in the 8th Legislative District who had her license suspended because of epileptic seizures. Once she was cleared to drive again, she discovered she had to pay the $100 restoration fee.
“Those convicted of DUI offenses and those with medical conditions have to pay the same fee to reinstate their drivers’ licenses. That seems very unjust to me,” Umba (R-Burlington) said. “It’s time to end this.”