New Jersey § 39:3-10
Full text of New Jersey New Jersey Statutes § 39:3-10, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 39:3-10.
a. In addition to the imposition of any other penalty provided by law, the chief administrator
shall suspend for not less than one year nor more than three years the commercial
motor vehicle driving privilege of a person convicted for a first violation of: (1) R.S.39:4-50 if the motor vehicle was a commercial motor vehicle or section 5 of P.L.1990, c. 103 ( C.39:3-10.13 ). (2) R.S.39:4-129 if the motor vehicle was a commercial motor vehicle operated by the person. (3) Using a commercial motor vehicle in the commission of any “crime” as defined in
subsection a., c. , or d. of N.J.S.2C:1-4 , except in circumstances where harsher penalties are provided by this section. (4) Refusal to submit to a chemical test under section 2 of P.L.1966, c. 142 ( C.39:4-50.2 ) or section 16 of P.L.1990, c. 103 ( C.39:3-10.24 ) if the motor vehicle was a commercial motor vehicle. (5) Paragraph (1) of subsection b. of section 10 of P.L.1990, c. 103 ( C.39:3-10.18 ). (6) A violation, arising in connection with a fatal accident, of State or local law
relating to motor vehicle traffic control, other than a parking violation, regardless
of whether the motor vehicle operated by the person was a commercial motor vehicle
or a non-commercial motor vehicle. b. If a first violation of any of the violations specified in subsection a. of this
section takes place while transporting hazardous material or takes place in a vehicle
displaying a hazardous material placard, the chief administrator shall suspend the
commercial motor vehicle driving privilege of the person for three years. c. Subject to the provisions of subsection d. of this section, the chief administrator
shall revoke for life the commercial motor vehicle driving privilege of a person for
a second or subsequent violation of any of the offenses specified in subsections a.
and j. of this section or any combination of those offenses arising from two or more
separate incidents. d. The chief administrator may issue rules and regulations establishing guidelines,
including conditions under which a revocation of commercial motor vehicle driving
privilege for life under subsection c. may be reduced to a period of not less than
10 years. e. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the chief administrator
shall revoke for life the commercial motor vehicle driving privilege of a person who
uses a commercial motor vehicle or a non-commercial motor vehicle in the commission
of a crime involving the manufacture, distribution, or dispensing of a controlled
substance or controlled substance analog, or possession with intent to manufacture,
distribute, or dispense a controlled substance or controlled substance analog. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the chief administrator
shall revoke for life the commercial motor vehicle driving privilege of a person who
is convicted of a crime involving an act or practice described in section 1 of P.L.2005, c. 77 ( C.2C:13-8 ) or involving an act or practice of one or more of the severe forms of trafficking
in persons as described in paragraph (11) of 22 U.S.C. S.7102 , the federal “Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000.” A revocation under this subsection shall not be subject to reduction in accordance
with subsection d. of this section. f. (1) The chief administrator shall suspend the commercial motor vehicle driving
privilege of a person for a period of not less than 60 days if the person is convicted
of a serious traffic violation, other than a violation arising in connection with
a fatal accident as set forth in paragraph (6) of subsection a. of this section, and
that conviction constitutes the second serious traffic violation committed in a commercial
motor vehicle or non-commercial motor vehicle in this or any other state arising from
separate incidents occurring within a three-year period. The chief administrator shall suspend the commercial motor vehicle driving privilege
for 120 days if the conviction constitutes the third or subsequent serious traffic
violation, other than a violation arising in connection with a fatal accident as set
forth in paragraph (6) of subsection a. of this section, committed in a commercial
motor vehicle or non-commercial motor vehicle in this or any other state arising from
separate incidents occurring within a three-year period. (2) The chief administrator shall suspend the commercial motor vehicle driving privilege
of a person for a period of not less than 60 days if the person is convicted of a
violation of R.S.39:4-128 ; section 68 of P.L.1951, c. 23 ( C.39:4-127.1 ); or section 10 of P.L.2005, c. 147 ( C.39:4-128.11 ). The chief administrator shall suspend the commercial motor vehicle driving privilege
for not less than 120 days if the conviction constitutes the second violation of R.S.39:4-128 ; section 68 of P.L.1951, c. 23 ( C.39:4-127.1 ); section 10 of P.L.2005, c. 147 ( C.39:4-128.11 ) or any combination of such violations in this or any other state arising from separate
incidents occurring within a three-year period. The chief administrator shall suspend the commercial motor vehicle driving privilege
for not less than one year if the conviction constitutes the third or subsequent violation
of R.S.39:4-128 ; section 68 of P.L.1951, c. 23 ( C.39:4-127.1 ); section 10 of P.L.2005, c. 147 ( C.39:4-128.11 ) or any combination of such violations in this or any other state arising from separate
incidents occurring within the past three years. (3) The chief administrator shall suspend the commercial motor vehicle driving privilege
of a person for a period of not less than 180 days or more than one year if the person
is convicted of violating a driver, commercial motor vehicle, or motor carrier operation
out-of-service order while driving a commercial motor vehicle transporting nonhazardous
materials. The chief administrator shall suspend the commercial motor vehicle driving privilege
of a person for a period of not less than two years or more than five years if the
conviction constitutes the second conviction in a separate incident in this or any
other state within a 10-year period of violating a driver, commercial motor vehicle,
or motor carrier operation out-of-service order while driving a commercial motor vehicle
transporting nonhazardous materials. The chief administrator shall suspend the commercial motor vehicle driving privilege
of a person for a period of not less than three years or more than five years if the
conviction constitutes the third or subsequent conviction in a separate incident in
this or any other state within a 10-year period of violating a driver, commercial
motor vehicle, or motor carrier operation out-of-service order while driving a commercial
motor vehicle transporting nonhazardous materials. (4) The chief administrator shall suspend the commercial motor vehicle driving privilege
of a person for a period of not less than 180 days or more than two years if the person
is convicted of violating a driver, commercial motor vehicle, or motor carrier operation
out-of-service order while driving a commercial motor vehicle transporting hazardous
materials required to be placarded under Subpart F of 49 C.F.R. s.172 , or while operating a vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including
the driver. The chief administrator shall suspend the commercial motor vehicle driving privilege
of a person for a period of not less than three years or more than five years if the
conviction constitutes a second or subsequent conviction in a separate incident within
a 10-year period in this or any other state of violating a driver, commercial motor
vehicle, or motor carrier operation out-of-service order while driving a commercial
motor vehicle transporting hazardous materials required to be placarded under Subpart
F of 49 C.F.R. s.172 , or while operating a vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including
the driver. g. A court shall make a report to the chief administrator within three days in such
form as the chief administrator may require concerning conviction for any violation
or crime listed or described in P.L.1990, c. 103 ( C.39:3-10.9 et seq. ). The chief administrator shall notify the Commercial Driver License Information System
of the suspension, revocation, or cancellation. In the case of non-residents, the chief administrator also shall notify the licensing
authority of the state which issued the commercial driver license or the state where
the person is domiciled. The chief administrator shall provide these notices within 10 days after the suspension,
revocation, cancellation, or disqualification. h. The chief administrator shall in accordance with this section suspend a commercial
motor vehicle driving privilege of a person holding, or required to hold, a commercial
driver license issued by this State if the person is convicted in another state or
foreign jurisdiction of an offense of a substantially similar nature to the offenses
specified in subsection a., e., f., g., h., i. or j. of this section. For purposes of this section, a violation such as driving while intoxicated, driving
under the influence, or driving while ability is impaired shall be considered substantially
similar offenses. For purposes of this section, a violation committed in another state but substantially
similar to those enumerated in subsection a., e., f., g., h., i. or j. of this section
committed in this State shall be included. i. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a conviction under
this section, or section 5 or 16 of P.L.1990, c. 103 ( C.39:3-10.13 or C.39:3-10.24 ), shall not merge with a conviction for a violation of R.S.39:4-50 or section 2 of P.L.1966, c. 142 ( C.39:4-50.2 ). j. In addition to any other penalty provided by law, the chief administrator shall
suspend for one year the commercial motor vehicle driving privilege of a person for
a first violation of: (1) R.S.39:4-50 while operating a non-commercial motor vehicle; (2) R.S.39:4-129 while operating a non-commercial motor vehicle; (3) Refusing to submit to a chemical test under section 2 of P.L.1966, c. 142 ( C.39:4-50.2 ) while operating a non-commercial motor vehicle; or (4) Using a non-commercial motor vehicle in the commission of any “crime” as defined
in subsection a., c. , or d. of N.J.S.2C:1-4 . k. The chief administrator shall in accordance with this section suspend the commercial
motor vehicle driving privilege of a person holding, or required to hold, a commercial
driver license issued by this State if that person has been disqualified from operating
a commercial motor vehicle by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration pursuant
to 49 C.F.R. s.383.52 because that person's driving has been determined to constitute an imminent hazard. l . The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall maintain records of accidents, convictions,
and disqualification for persons holding, or required to hold, a commercial driver
license in accordance with 49 C.F.R. s.384.225 and the AAMVAnet, Inc.'s “Commercial Driver License Information System State Procedures,”
as amended and supplemented. m. Any driver who is found to be in violation of the provisions of paragraph (a) or
(b) of 49 C.F.R. s.392.5 , relating to the use of alcohol, being under the influence of alcohol, having any
measured alcohol concentration or detected presence of alcohol, or possessing alcohol,
shall be placed out-of-service immediately for a period of 24 hours. n. In sentencing a person convicted of a first violation of section 5 of P.L.1990, c. 103 ( C.39:3-10.13 ) whose blood alcohol concentration was at least 0.04% but less than 0.08%, the court
shall not suspend the person's basic driver's license, but shall order the installation
of an ignition interlock device in one non-commercial motor vehicle owned, leased,
or principally operated by the offender, whichever the offender most often operates,
which shall remain installed during the period that the person's commercial motor
vehicle driving privilege is suspended.
Frequently Asked Questions About New Jersey § 39:3-10
What does New Jersey Statutes § 39:3-10 cover?
Section 39:3-10 is part of the New Jersey Statutes, the codified statutory law of New Jersey. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite New Jersey § 39:3-10?
A common citation format is "New Jersey Statutes § 39:3-10" (New Jersey). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of New Jersey law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the New Jersey official source linked on this page or consult a licensed New Jersey attorney.
How does New Jersey § 39:3-10 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in New Jersey can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in New Jersey.