TRENTON, N.J., December 13 – The State Senate passed six bills dealing with easing up on suspensions of drivers licenses, including one that would lower penalties for driving without liability insurance coverage.

The measures, all sponsored by State Senator Shirley Turner (D-Mercer), now go to the Assembly for consideration.

The most controversial of the bills, S2328, would remove the one-year mandatory license suspension for those convicted of driving without the required insurance, PIP coverage, and liability coverage.

The bill would leave the sentencing up to the judges who could impose suspensions as low as two months, with consideration given to the motorist for buying the coverage first to drive again.

It passed 27-11 in the 40-member house, with opponents declaring the measure would not stop future cases of driving without the required liability coverage.

Turner said the laws must be changed to give local judges leeway, instead of the present laws mandating suspensions.

The bills that passed also would allow for installment payments of up to three years for drivers to pay outstanding fines and surcharges in order to get their licenses restored.

One bill, S2330, would establish lower penalties for non driving-related offenses, such as parking violations where, under current law, licenses can be suspended for failing to pay parking tickets.

Turner said, Many suspensions are the result of individuals not having the money to pay fines and fees, or buy insurance, and it makes no sense to take away their means of getting to the jobs they need to afford those costs.