Terms Used In New Jersey Statutes 39:7-7

  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • magistrate: includes any judge, municipal magistrate or officer or other person having the powers of a committing magistrate. See New Jersey Statutes 1:1-2
  • Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
  • Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
  • State: extends to and includes any State, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia and the Canal Zone. See New Jersey Statutes 1:1-2
Whenever any collision or accident shall occur in this State and the driver of any motor vehicle involved therein shall be a non-resident and not licensed under the laws of this State to operate a motor vehicle, or a motor vehicle involved in any such collision or accident shall not be registered or licensed under the laws of this State, the magistrate before whom the nonresident owner or operator of such motor vehicle shall be brought shall require such nonresident owner or operator, as a condition to his release on bail or otherwise, to execute a written power of attorney to the director, appointing such director his lawful agent for the acceptance of service of process in any civil action instituted or to be instituted by any resident of this State against such nonresident for or on account of any claim, demand or cause of action arising out of such collision or accident. The power of attorney herein required shall be upon a form prepared and furnished to recorders and other committing magistrates by the director and shall, after the execution thereof, be filed with the director.

The requirements of this section shall be in addition to, and not in limitation of any other law concerning the giving of bail or other security.

Amended by L.1949, c. 190, p. 638, s. 5.