P.L. 2019, c. 216 makes it unlawful for a person who is not licensed under the Public Movers and Warehousemen Licensing Act to advertise or engage in the business of public moving or storage.
P.L. 2019, c. 216 makes it unlawful for a person who is not licensed under the Public Movers and Warehousemen Licensing Act to advertise or engage in the business of public moving or storage. The law also gives any law enforcement officer the authority to remove any motor vehicle used to engage in public moving without the appropriate license from the roadway to a storage space or garage. The owner of the vehicle is responsible for the removal and storage expenses. The law also makes it unlawful for licenses or unlicensed public movers and warehouseman to withhold, fail to timely release, or threaten to withhold or release the consumer’s property if paid in full as well as increasing the penalties for violating the law.
The new law also requires that the Division of Consumer Affairs annually submit a report to the Legislature providing information on the enforcement and violations of this law including a description of all enforcement proceedings at the state and local level along with the violations for the preceding year and may include recommendations to improve enforcement. In addition, the Division of Consumer Affairs must coordinate their enforcement efforts with State and local law enforcement agencies as may be appropriate, including but not limited to, exercising authority to impound a motor vehicle for a violation.
This new law takes effect December 1, 2019, however, the Division of Consumer Affairs Director may take any anticipatory administrative action that is necessary to implement the new law.
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Senior Legislative Analyst, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x112.