New Jersey Traffic Statute Guide
N.J.S.A. 39:4-14.3d, explained.
The entire operative rule is short: a motorized bicycle shall carry only the operator. The real disputes are usually whether the machine fits that category and whether a second person was actually being carried.
The Rule
One covered bicycle, one operator
Section 39:4-14.3d prohibits a motorized bicycle from carrying anyone besides its operator. It does not turn on whether a passenger seat or foot pegs were installed, how far the second person rode, or whether the riding seemed safe.
The statute says motorized bicycle. Device classification therefore matters, particularly after the 2025 amendments elsewhere in the article addressed low-speed electric bicycles. The State still needs proof that the charged machine and conduct fall under this section.
What Must Be Proved
The charge is narrower than its label
- The machine was a motorized bicycle within Title 39.
- The accused operated it.
- A second person was carried on it during operation.
MVC points: 2. That figure comes from the current MVC schedule, not an old payable-ticket table.
Statutory penalty: The companion penalty section, 39:4-14.3b, generally authorizes a fine up to $200, imprisonment up to 15 days, or both.
Evidence & Defenses
Details decide these cases
What machine?
Model, motor rating, pedals, specifications, and photographs may show whether police used the right statutory category.
Carrying versus standing nearby
Body-camera footage and witness vantage point matter when the observation was brief or the machine was already stopped.
Identity
The State must identify the operator, not merely the owner or person standing with the bicycle after the stop.
Save photographs and manufacturer materials for the exact device. A generic image found online may depict a different motor, configuration, or model year.
Common Questions
Questions about 39:4-14.3d
Can a child ride as a passenger on a motorized bicycle?
No exception in this section allows it. The text permits only the operator on the motorized bicycle.
Does a passenger seat make two riders legal?
No. Equipment does not override the one-operator rule.
Is this the same as an ordinary bicycle passenger rule?
No. This charge is written for a motorized bicycle, so the device's legal classification should be checked rather than assumed.
Primary Sources
Read the official material
The explanation above was checked on September 5, 2026 against the New Jersey Legislature's official bulk text (codified through P.L.2025, c.405), the Legislature's live Title 39 compilation, and the MVC's current points table. The 2026 enacted-law index was also checked for later amendments affecting this batch.
- Official Legislature lookup for N.J.S.A. 39:4-14.3d
- Local Title 39 reference entry for N.J.S.A. 39:4-14.3d
- New Jersey Legislature official statute-text archive
- New Jersey MVC official points schedule
Related reading: New Jersey traffic-ticket defense and the New Jersey municipal court directory.
Charged under N.J.S.A. 39:4-14.3d?
The citation is only the start. The location, observations, video, and exact subsection determine what the State can prove.
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Source verification completed September 5, 2026 against the New Jersey Legislature bulk statutes through P.L.2025, c.405, the exact Title 39 section, and the New Jersey MVC points schedule. Primary sources: Legislature statute archive and MVC points schedule. This is source verification, not a representation of attorney review. Laws change; nothing here is legal advice for your specific case.