In May 2013, a new bill was introduced in the NJ Legislature which would increase “penalties for motor vehicle violations resulting in serious bodily injury or death to certain persons in [the] highway.”  If enacted into law, Assembly bill No. 4063 would require a motorist, whose violation of the traffic statutes causes a qualifying injury to an otherwise innocent bicyclist or pedestrian, to pay a fine of $1,000 and to complete a remedial driver’s safety course.  The fine would represent an enhanced penalty, which is supplemental to any fine related to the underlying motor vehicle violation, and would be deposited into the State’s Pedestrian Safety Enforcement and Education Fund.

The legislature’s website confirms that the bill was introduced, but no additional information is available at this time on the status of the proposed law.

A PDF of the proposed legislation can be viewed here.