N.J. Stat. tit. 48, ch. 16A

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 48:16A-1 Definitions

As used in this act "Vehicle" means and includes any horse-drawn vehicle owned or operated in the business of carrying passengers for hire by a driver furnished with the vehicle or by any other person. "Person" means and includes any individual, co-partnership, association, corporation or joint stock company, their lessees, trustees or receivers appointed by any court whatsoever. "Street" means and includes any street, avenue, park, parkway, highway, or other public place. L.1965, c. 40, s. 1.

N.J. Stat. § 48:16A-2 Filing of insurance policy as condition precedent to operation; amount; policy provisions

No vehicle shall be operated wholly or partly along any street in any municipality until the owner of the vehicle shall have filed with the clerk of the municipality in which such operation is maintained, an insurance policy of a company duly licensed to transact business under the insurance laws of this State in the sum of $10,000.00 against loss by reason of the liability imposed by law upon the vehicle owner for damages on account of bodily injury or death suffered by any person with a maximum limit of $100,000.00 for more than one person in any one accident, and in the sum of $1,000.00 against loss by reason of such liability for damages on account of the injury to or destruction of the property of any person, with a maximum of $5,000.00 for more than one person in any one accident, as the result of an accident occurring by reason of the ownership, maintenance or use of the vehicle upon any public street. Such operation shall be permitted only so long as the insurance policy shall remain in force to the full and collectible amount of $105,000.00. The insurance policy shall provide for the payment of any final judgment recovered by any person on account of the ownership, maintenance and use of such vehicle or any fault in respect thereto, and shall be for the benefit of every person suffering loss, damage or injury as aforesaid. L.1965, c. 40, s. 2.

N.J. Stat. § 48:16A-3 Operation of more than one vehicle; blanket insurance; provisions

If such owner operates more than one vehicle, he may file with the clerk of the municipality, in lieu of the policy required by section 2 of this act, a bond or insurance policy of a company duly licensed to transact business under the insurance laws of this State, in the sum of $105,000.00, which shall be a blanket insurance covering all vehicles operated by such owner which shall provide for the payment of any final judgment recovered by any person on account of the ownership, maintenance and use of any such vehicles or any fault in respect thereto, and shall be for the benefit of every person suffering loss, damage or injury as aforesaid. L.1965, c. 40, s. 3.

N.J. Stat. § 48:16A-4 Appointment of attorney for acknowledgment of service of process

The owner of the vehicle shall execute and deliver to the clerk of the municipality concurrently with the filing of a policy or bond referred to in sections 2 and 3 of this act, a power of attorney, wherein and whereby the owner shall appoint the chief fiscal officer of the municipality his true and lawful attorney for the purpose of acknowledging service of any process out of a court of competent jurisdiction to be served against the insured by virtue of the indemnity granted under the insurance policy or bond filed. L.1965, c. 40, s. 4.

N.J. Stat. § 48:16A-5 Issuance of certificate of compliance; contents; posting

The clerk of the municipality, upon the filing of the required insurance policy or bond, shall issue a certificate in duplicate showing that the owner of the vehicle has complied with the terms and provisions of this act. The certificate shall recite the name of the insurance company, the number and date of expiration of the policy or bond and a description of the vehicle insured thereunder. The original certificate shall be posted in a conspicuous place within the vehicle. L.1965, c. 40, s. 5.

N.J. Stat. § 48:16A-6 Operation of vehicle in more than one municipality; place of filing policy or bond

Where a vehicle operates in more than one municipality, the insurance policy or bond required by sections 2 and 3 of this act shall be filed with the clerk of the municipality in which the owner has his principal place of business and certificates, in such number as may be necessary, certifying that the owner has complied with all the provisions of this act shall, by the clerk of the municipality, be delivered to the owner, who shall file the certificate with the clerk of each municipality in which such operation takes place. L.1965, c. 40, s. 6.

N.J. Stat. § 48:16A-7 Authority of corporation to carry own insurance; exemption order; statement by corporate officers; filing

Any corporation organized under the laws of this State having a paid up cash capital of not less than $300,000.00 may carry its own liability insurance, if it can reasonably satisfy the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance as to the permanence and financial standing of its business. If the commissioner shall by written order make such an exemption, the company in lieu of the insurance policy or bond provided for by sections 2 and 3 of this act, may file a copy of the order with a statement sworn to by its president, vice-president, treasurer or assistant treasurer that the corporation is the owner of vehicles and that the copy of the order attached to the affidavit and filed therewith is a true copy of the original order and that the same has not been revoked. The copy of the order of exemption and statement shall remain in lieu of an insurance policy or bond so long as the paid up cash capital of the corporation shall be not less than $300,000.00 and the order of the commissioner shall remain in force. L.1965, c. 40, s. 7.

N.J. Stat. § 48:16A-8 Revocation of exemption order

If it shall appear to the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, after a hearing, that the company no longer has a paid up cash capital of at least $300,000.00 and is no longer able to pay damages which may result from an accident occurring by reason of the ownership, maintenance or use of the vehicles owned by it, upon any public street, he shall revoke his order granting exemption. Thereupon the company shall immediately file an insurance policy or bond as required by sections 2 and 3 of this act. L.1965, c. 40, s. 8.

N.J. Stat. § 48:16A-9 Operation in violation of act; misdemeanor

Any person who, being the owner or bailor of such a vehicle, shall operate, or permit to be operated, for hire such vehicle in any street in this State without complying with the provisions of this act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. L.1965, c. 40, s. 9.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026