TRENTON, NJ – We’ve become accustomed to reserved parking spots in New Jersey for handicap parking, veteran parking, and parking for parents with small children, but now, with the EV revolution sweeping New Jersey, a new parking violation is emerging and it comes with a hefty jail sentence.
If you live in a busy and congested area with spots now reserved for EV charging parking, New Jersey lawmakers want to fine you and possibly throw you in jail for two weeks for parking a non-EV vehicle in those spots.
Cliffside Park Assemblyman, the state Democrat’s deputy whip at the Statehouse, wants jail time for gas-powered car owners who park in spots designated for electric vehicles.
This bill adds electric vehicle charging locations to the locations where an operator of a motor vehicle is prohibited from parking under certain circumstances.
Under the bill, an individual is prohibited from parking in an electric vehicle charging location if the vehicle is a non-electric vehicle and if the location is clearly marked as an electric vehicle charging location or as designated for electric vehicle charging only.
A violation of the provisions of this bill is punishable by a fine of not more than $50 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 15 days, or both.
“The sponsor notes that many electric vehicle drivers report that non-electric vehicles are often parked in electric vehicle charging locations. Sometimes the driver of the non-electric vehicle did not notice the spot was intended for electric vehicle charging because of unclear or confusing signage, but many times, the non-electric vehicle driver simply disregards the designation of the spot,” the bill reads. “Unfortunately, many non-electric vehicle drivers do not realize how critical these locations are to electric vehicle drivers. Parking in an electric vehicle charging location is equivalent to blocking gas pumps, except that there are far more gas stations than electric vehicle charging locations. The sponsor hopes that this bill will help deter non-electric vehicle drivers from parking in electric vehicle charging locations and will allow law enforcement officers to enforce penalties on individuals who violate the bill’s provisions.”