Serving as Acting Governor, while Governor Phil Murphy was out of state, Senate President Nicholas Scutari signed A-4686 into law. This new law sets limits on the permissible volume of sound emanating from motor vehicles. The intent is to address noise violations attributed to "nuisance motor vehicles," colloquially referred to as "boom cars." The objective of this law is to mitigate the disturbances caused by loud music during "boom parties," instances where sizable groups of individuals play amplified music from speaker systems in their vehicles during late hours.
Under the law, a person is subject to a fine of not less than $250 or more than $500 for a first offense; for a second violation, the fine increases to not less than $500 or more than $750; and for a third or subsequent violation, a person is subject to a fine of not less than $750 or more than $1,000 and will be assessed two motor vehicle penalty points.
P.L. 2023, c. 135 took effect on August 7, 2023.
Contact: Andrew LaFevre, Legislative Analyst, alafevre@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x116.