A movable span bridge or “swing bridge” is a bridge that can pivot horizontally about 90 degrees to allow cars to drive over it when it is oriented one way and ships to pass by it when oriented the other. An example of a movable span bridge in New Jersey is the Riverside-Delanco Bridge where County Route 543 crosses the Rancocas Creek in Burlington County.
Section 39:4-127.2 of the New Jersey Annotated Statutes states, “No person shall drive any vehicle through, around, or under any gate or barrier at or on the approaches to a movable span bridge while such gate or barrier is closed or is being opened or closed, nor shall any person drive any vehicle in disobedience to the directions of a traffic control signal or sign, police officer or duly authorized bridge tender, flagman or gateman, located at or in advance of said bridge.”
Fines and Other Penalties
If you are convicted of or plead guilty to failing to stop for the gate at the approach to a movable span bridge, you can incur an $85 fine. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission will also add two points to your driving record. These points stay on your record and accumulate, but three points are removed for each year you go without a violation or a license suspension. You can also reduce the points on your record by participating in MVC-approved defensive driving courses, driver improvement programs, and probationary driver programs.
If you get at least six points on your record within a three-year period, you will need to pay a $150 surcharge, plus $25 for each point beyond six. Having 12 or more points on your driving record at any time will result in suspension of your driver’s license. A judge can also suspend your license at his discretion for any willful violation of a New Jersey traffic statute, including NJSA 39:4-127.2.
You will also get two “insurance eligibility points” for a violation of NJSA 39:4-127.2. These points are used by private insurers to determine the premiums you pay, and if you get too many points, you may need to purchase coverage through the more expensive New Jersey Personal Automobile Insurance Plan (NJPAIP)
New Jersey Traffic Ticket Attorney Dan Matrafajlo Can Help
If you have been accused of improperly crossing a movable span bridge in violation of NJSA 39:4-127.2 or violating any other New Jersey traffic statute, you may face serious penalties. A conviction or a guilty plea for a minor offense may not seem like a big deal at first, but they add up and over time, accumulating points on your record can increase your insurance costs and lead to fines or suspension of your license. Before you plead guilty and just pay a ticket, give me a call at (908) 248-4404 to learn how I can help defend your rights, as I have been doing for central New Jersey drivers for years.
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