The New Jersey state Assembly Transportation Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing this week on a bill which would add 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: 1) as an electric vehicle charging location, 2) as designated for electric vehicle charging only, and 3) to indicate that violators are subject to a penalty.

The bill defines “electric vehicle charging location” as a publicly accessible parking space or set of parking spaces, with visible signage designating that the parking space or spaces are available for use by the public for charging plug-in electric vehicles.

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.

According to the bill’s sponsor, Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese, 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.

“Unfortunately, many non-electric vehicle drivers do not realize how critical these locations are to electric vehicle drivers,” Calabrese said.

“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,” he added, noting that he is hopes the bill will deter non-electric vehicle drivers from parking in electric vehicle charging locations and allow law enforcement officers to enforce penalties on individuals who violate the bill’s provisions.

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.

Earlier this 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.”