TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Jeff Van Drew allowing veterans and other military personnel to present certain forms of identification in lieu of municipal beach tags to gain admission to certain beaches is now law.
“These brave individuals and their families are making sacrifices every day. It’s only right we make life a little easier for them when it comes to enjoying the Jersey Shore. This new law will make access to our beaches more convenient for military personnel, who will be able to use their military ID to get onto certain beaches, rather than having to get a beach tag,” said Senator Van Drew (D-Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland). “While this is a minor change, it is something we can do to make things less complicated for these men and women when they have the time to rest and relax.”
The new law, S-2146, will allow a member of the US Armed Forces, their spouse and dependent child over the age of 12, access to a New Jersey beach, in a municipality which provides free beach access to veterans and service members, without having to get a beach tag. The law will allow free access if the military member shows military ID, such as:
- valid military identification card;
- form DD-214 or similar document;
- Or State driver’s license or identification card indicating that the holder is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States.
Under state law, municipalities may provide free or reduced fee beach access to persons in active military service in any of the Armed Forces of the United States and to their spouse or dependent children over the age of 12; active members of the New Jersey National Guard who have completed Initial Active Duty Training and to their spouse or dependent children over the age of 12; and veterans who have served in any of the Armed Forces of the United States and who were discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable and who either have served at least 90 days in active duty or have been discharged or released from active duty by reason of an actual service-incurred injury or disability.
The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 36-0. It passed the Assembly in May by a vote of 72-0. The governor signed it on Monday.