Odd Laws Still on the Books
Decals for new drivers, spray tans at 14, and a $200 cigarette: real New Jersey sections
Lists of strange state laws get passed around with no section number attached. Every one below has one, read from the state's statutes.
Who handles this in New Jersey: Essex County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the New Jersey directory.
| The law | What it says | Breaking it |
|---|---|---|
| The lawThe new driver decals | What it saysEvery probationary driver gets two reflective decals, displayed so police can see them. | Breaking itA violation of the license rules |
| The lawA cigarette out the window | What it saysA cigarette, cigar, match or ashes dropped from a car on a highway is debris thrown from a vehicle. | Breaking itA fine of $200 to $1,000 |
| The lawSpray tans at 14 | What it saysA tanning facility must let someone at least 14 get a spray tan, but no tanning bed before 17. | Breaking itSet by the tanning penalties |
| The lawA pet released | What it saysLetting a pet exotic animal go into the wild takes a state permit. | Breaking itA civil penalty of $100 or more |
Many laws that sound strange are municipal ordinances rather than state law, and those differ from town to town; this page covers only the state's statutes. Whether a particular act broke one of these sections is a question for a licensed New Jersey attorney.
Sources for this section (5)
- N.J.S.A. 39:3-13.4 — Probationary driver license
- N.J.S.A. 39:4-64 — Highway littering ban
- N.J.S.A. 26:2D-82.1 — Restrictions on the use of tanning facilities by minors
- N.J.S.A. 23:4-63.3 — Possession and release of certain animals
- N.J.S.A. 23:4-63.4 — Possession and release of certain animals; penalties
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed New Jersey attorney.