New Jersey Truck Mud Flap Law

What New Jersey makes you run

New Jersey requires metal protectors or flexible flaps on the rearmost wheels of any bus, truck, full trailer or semitrailer over three tons registered weight (N.J.S.A. 39:3-79.1). The statute sets no inch figure and hands the type, design and installation to the Division of Motor Vehicles Director, tracking the old federal rule. Pole trailers, dump trucks and tanks are exempt. Roadside it's a correctable equipment ticket, judged by eye, not by tape measure.

Coverage and clearance

• Required: Yes
• Coverage: No width number in the statute. Protectors or flaps go on the rearmost wheels, and where the top isn't covered by fender or body the wheels must be covered at the top, per the Director's approved standard.
• Ground clearance: The statute sets no inch number. It delegates the type, design and installation of protectors or flaps to the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles, whose standard is meant to conform to the old federal (ICC) requirements. No fixed clearance is written in the law itself.
• Fine: Equipment violation under Title 39; a correctable fix-it citation with a fine plus court costs. Confirm the current amount with the MVC.

More for New Jersey