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Bill Berenato Sr.
Antique Automobile Club of America,
South Jersey Mod “A“ Region

At present, many of New Jersey’s municipalities are rewriting land-use
ordinances to prohibit automotive hobbyist activities, i.e. restoring,
repairing and customizing vehicles or keeping a parts-car in public view.
I was instrumental in having Assemblyman Louis D. Greenwald (D-6th
District) draft and introduce New Jersey A-1403, a bill that strives to
protect the New Jersey enthusiast community’s right to pursue the hobby.
A-1403 would protect the right of automotive hobbyists to work on and store
up to three project vehicles and parts cars on private property so long as
they are shielded from ordinary public view.
Bill A-1403 was up for vote in the New Jersey Assembly this year and
probably would have passed had the powerful New Jersey League of
Municipalities lobby not opposed the Bill and had it pulled before
consideration. In an effort to address the League of Municipalities’
concerns while still protecting hobbyists, A-1403 was rewritten and, at
present, New Jersey Assembly Speaker Jack Collins (R-3rd District) is
“sitting” on the bill, preventing it from being heard and voted on.
The New Jersey League of Municipalities likely still wants this bill to
die without ever having received due consideration. New Jersey car
collectors, restorers, shade-tree mechanics and basic hobbyists are
encouraged to contact Speaker Collins to express their support for A-1403.
If enough people call, write or e-mail, this bill will come up for vote by
the end of this year. Otherwise, it will surely die.
Collins’ contact information is as follows: Assemblyman Jack Collins,
Speaker, New Jersey Assembly, 63 East Ave. Woodstown, N.J. 08098,
856/769-3633, asmcollins@njleg.state.nj.us.

Editor’s note: A-1403 is a moving target. Negotiations on this legislation
continue and success is neither guaranteed nor completely out of the
question. The salient fact is that New Jersey enthusiasts are working hard
to protect the hobby. THAT is reason enough to bring this to everyone’s
attention!
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