NJ CAR previously advised dealers of the passage of P.L. 2023, c.285 (the Temp Tag Law) and its requirement for usage of new temp tag paper with enhanced security features. We also previously advised dealers that October 1, 2024, is the last day that initial and second temporary license plates can be issued/printed on the current plain white temp tag paper.
Law enforcement will be on the look out for the old temp tag paper starting November 1, 2024. The Temp Tag Law has specific criminal provisions that customers, and dealers alike, need to pay attention to.
Therefore, it is imperative that dealerships order their supply of the new temp tag paper and do not issue temp tags on the old paper past October 1, 2024.
The criminal provisions of the Temp Tag Law are as follows:
- Any person who knowingly produces, sells, offers, or exposes for sale a temporary registration certificate or temporary license plate obtained by providing false information to the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.
- Any person who exhibits or displays on a motor vehicle a temporary registration certificate or temporary license plate, knowing that the temporary registration certificate or temporary license plate was obtained by providing false information to the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, is guilty of a disorderly person’s offense.
- Any person who possesses a temporary registration certificate or temporary license plate, knowing that the temporary registration certificate or temporary license plate was obtained by providing false information to the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, is guilty of a petty disorderly person’s offense.
- Any person who knowingly produces, sells, offers, or exposes for sale a forged, altered, counterfeited, or simulated temporary registration certificate or temporary license plate that simulates a temporary registration certificate or license plate is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.
- Any person who exhibits or displays on a motor vehicle a falsely made, forged, altered, counterfeited, or simulated temporary registration certificate or temporary license plate, knowing that the temporary registration certificate or temporary license plate was falsely made, forged, altered, counterfeited or simulated, is guilty of a disorderly person’s offense.
- Any person who possesses a falsely made, forged, altered, counterfeited, or simulated temporary registration certificate or temporary license plate, knowing that the temporary registration certificate or temporary license plate was falsely made, forged, altered, counterfeited, or simulated, is guilty of a petty disorderly person’s offense.
Violators of the law could face monetary penalties and 18-month incarceration for a conviction of a fourth-degree offense, a 6-month incarceration for a conviction of a disorderly person’s offense, and 30 days incarceration for a conviction of a petty disorderly person’s offense.
Additionally, upon a finding that a licensed dealer has violated the provisions of any rule or regulation prescribed by the Chief Administrator related to the issuance of temporary registration certificates or license plates, the Chief Administrator shall impose a fine of $2,500 for a first offense and $5,000 for any subsequent offense.
The Chief Administrator also has broad authority to, in addition to fines or penalties, suspend or revoke the dealer license of a dealer for violating the criminal provisions listed above or for subsequent offenses requiring the payment of fines or subsequent violation of any rule or regulation prescribed by the Chief Administrator related to the issuance of temporary registration certificates or license plates.
If dealers have questions about this topic or any other questions, contact Greyson P. Hannigan, NJ CAR’s Director of Legal & Regulatory Affairs at (609) 883-5056 – ext. 340, or via email, at [email protected].