NJ Governor Signs Unsafe Used-Tire Bill Into Law

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation that prohibits the sale of unsafe used tires in the Garden State. The statute, A-3896, imposes fines of up to $500 for the first offense and up to $20,000 for third of subsequent offenses. Sponsored by Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, D-Paterson, and Sen. Nicholas Scutari, D-Linden, and advocated by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA)— it defines an unsafe used as one that:

• has a tread depth of less than 1/16 inch measurable in any groove;
• has any damage exposing the reinforcing plies of the tire, including any cuts, cracks, bulges, punctures, scrapes, or wear;
• has any improper repairs, including, but not limited to: any repair to the sidewall or bead area of the tire;
• has any repair made in the tread shoulder or belt edge area of the tire;
• has any puncture that has not been sealed or patched on the inside and repaired with a cured rubber stem through the outside of the tire or any puncture repair of damage larger than 1/4 inch;
• shows evidence of prior use of a temporary tire sealant without evidence of a subsequent proper repair;
• has a defaced or missing tire identification number;
• has inner liner or bead damage; or
• shows indication of internal separation, such as bulges or local areas of irregular tread wear.

© Scrap Tire News, September 2017