TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) today proposed a bill that will enhance driver safety by giving parents greater supervision over their child’s driving practices. The bill, scheduled to be introduced on Monday, would allow parents access to their child’s official driving records from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.
“As a parent of young drivers, I know how hard it is to keep tabs on them and how many nights are spent worrying when they’re out driving,” said Sen. Codey. “Once they leave the house, it’s almost impossible to tell how they handle themselves behind the wheel. This proposal would allow parents to monitor their child’s driving record to see if they have any offenses, and hopefully encourage kids to be more cautious, knowing their parents have the ability to track their record.”
Presently, no individual can request another person’s driving record, except as permitted by law for circumstances such as those involving a court or law enforcement agencies, accident cases, theft, employer verification, et al. Sen. Codey’s bill would amend the current state law (P.L. 1997, c. 188, s. 2) to allow the Motor Vehicle Commission to disclose personal driver information to any parent, guardian or other person with legal custody of an individual under the age of 18.
Sen. Codey proposed the bill in light of recent tragic accidents involving minors, including one last week in Freehold, which resulted in the deaths of four people. Upon introduction, the bill will be referred to the Senate Transportation Committee where Sen. Codey hopes it will receive swift consideration.