Eliminates front registration plate and requires issuance of single rear registration plate.
Assembly Bill 5134 would change New Jersey’s vehicle registration system from issuing two plates for automobiles and motorcycles to issuing a single registration plate. The bill amends R.S.39:3-33 so that the plate would be displayed on the rear of the vehicle, while preserving existing rules about plate visibility, plate frames that obscure information, and penalties for fictitious or improper plates. It also keeps the current exceptions for certain commercial and sanitation vehicles where rear plates may be mounted higher than 48 inches from the ground.
The bill further requires anyone who previously received two plates to return one plate to the Motor Vehicle Commission in a manner the commission determines. It directs the MVC to run a public awareness campaign about the new requirements and to report within one year on the cost savings from eliminating the front plate requirement. The act would take effect on the first day of the sixth month after enactment, with advance administrative action allowed for implementation.
If enacted, the bill would amend New Jersey’s motor vehicle registration law to require the MVC to issue only one plate per automobile and motorcycle, eliminating the front plate requirement statewide. It would affect vehicle owners, the Motor Vehicle Commission, and law enforcement by changing what constitutes compliant display of registration plates and by requiring the return of one plate from previously issued two-plate sets. The bill also creates a new reporting obligation for the MVC on cost savings and requires outreach to the public, while leaving existing enforcement provisions for obscured, fictitious, or improper plates largely intact.
The bill appears generally favorable in tone based on the sponsor’s statement, which frames the change as a cost-saving, convenience-oriented, and environmentally beneficial reform. The sponsor also argues that modern vehicle safety technologies can be obstructed or damaged by front plate installation, suggesting a practical rationale for the change. No committee testimony or recorded votes were provided, so there is no broader legislative or public sentiment reflected in the available materials beyond the sponsor’s support.
The main points of contention implied by the bill are administrative and enforcement-related rather than ideological. Supporters emphasize reduced costs, less waste, and avoiding interference with vehicle design and safety technology, while the bill’s structure suggests potential concerns about implementation logistics, compliance, and the effect on law enforcement identification of vehicles. Because no committee transcript or vote history is available, there is no direct evidence of opposition, but the requirement to return existing plates and the need for a public awareness campaign indicate that transition issues may be a practical concern.