The New Jersey state Senate Transportation Committee advanced legislation sponsored by Senator Patrick Diegnan that would prohibit the use of parking spaces for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations if the vehicle is not an EV or is an EV that is not actively charging.
“Parking in a space clearly designated for EV charging stations and not using it for charging is not dissimilar from parking in front of a gas pump, except that there are far less EV charging stations than gas pumps,” said Senator Diegnan (D-Middlesex), Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee.
“Businesses and government provide for EV charging stations to better provide for their clients and residents. Using the space just for parking actively disrupts the intended use of the space, and makes the investment in a charging station less effective than it otherwise would be.”
The bill would add electric vehicle charging spaces to the locations where operators of motor vehicles are prohibited from parking under certain circumstances.
Specifically, if the space is clearly marked with signage and pavement markings indicating that the space is reserved for plug-in EVs for charging, vehicles that are not EVs or are EVs not actively charging would be prohibited from using the space.
Lakewood Township, which has the fifth-most electric vehicles on the road, also struggles with this issue, in addition to a general shortage of charging stations.
Last year, in response to an “Ask The Mayor” question submitted through TLS, Mayor Ray Coles said Lakewood Township will soon be installing electric vehicle charging stations in Township parking lots in the “near future.”
Individuals who violate the bill’s provisions would be subject to a fine of $55 for the first offense, $100 for a second offense, and $200 for a third or subsequent offense.
In addition, towing of vehicles in violation would be subject to the discretion of the municipality in which the EV charging space is located.
In the event that a municipality uses its discretion to tow such a vehicle, the registered owner or lessee of the vehicle would be responsible for towing and storage costs.
btw dont be fooled when they tell you how much money you save in gas bills, they dont tell you how much money you will need to spend on electric bills, and they dont tell you how much money it will cost you to have a electrician run a good decent speed electric line by your house, usually close to $1000. and they wont tell you how much lachatz it can cause if you want to take it to the Catskills.
They should make a bill prohibiting electric vehicles from parking in non electric vehicle spots. Otherwise this is segregation.
That’s not the way Liberal Democrats and regressives think or work. Their needs matter, and to heck with the rest of the world.
Electric vehicles don’t do this to gas car owners. Parking in front of an ev charging station is the equivalent to parking in front of a gas pump, which I personally have never seen someone do. (and yes, that is common sense, so no one thought of making it illegal)
Um that is because gas pumps aren’t parking spaces while charging stations are.