N.J. Stat. tit. 48, ch. 8

N.J. Stat. tit. 48, ch. 8
in effect

N.J. Stat. § 48:8-1 Board of freeholders to fix rates; clerk's fee for copies

The board of freeholders, hereinafter in this article called the "board" , shall fix the rates to be taken at the several ferries within their respective counties and from time to time, may revise or alter such rates or establish new rates. The clerk of the board shall be entitled to fifty cents for each copy of the rates fixed by the board, certified under his hand.

N.J. Stat. § 48:8-2 Table of rates; posting at ferry.

48:8-2. a. The owner or operator of every ferry shall erect and maintain, where the ferry is kept, a post with a table of the rates and route schedule fixed by the board, printed, written, or painted in large capitals, annexed thereto. The post and table shall be set up so that the table shall be visible to passengers entering the boat used for the ferry. In addition to posting at the passenger entrance of the ferry, the owner or operator shall publish the table of rates and the route schedule on the website of the owner or operator. b. In the event that the table of rates or route schedule, developed pursuant to subsection a. of this section, is changed by the owner or operator, the owner or operator shall update all postings required pursuant to subsection a. of this section to reflect the changes in the table of rates or route schedule within 30 days of the changes taking effect. c. For every day that the owner or operator of any ferry shall fail or refuse to maintain the postings required pursuant to subsection a. of this section, the owner or operator shall be liable to pay a penalty of one dollar. amended 2025, c.260, s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 48:8-3 § 48:8-3

Any ferryman, keeper of a ferry or his servant who shall demand or take a greater fare than that fixed by the board shall for every such offense be liable to a penalty of three dollars.

N.J. Stat. § 48:8-4 Proper boats adequately equipped required; penalties.

The owner or keeper of every ferry shall provide proper boats or other vessels sufficient for the safe and speedy transportation of passengers, horses, cattle, vehicles and goods, and properly furnished with the necessary implements and sufficient competent and able-bodied men to perform his business. No ferryman shall carry or attempt to carry any person over any ferry in a boat or other vessel that does not comply with this section, under penalty of ten dollars. Every owner or keeper of a ferry who fails to provide the necessary implements and men required by this section, shall for every default therein be liable to a penalty of two dollars.

N.J. Stat. § 48:8-5 Refusal to or delay in carrying passengers or goods; exception.

Every ferryman shall give constant and diligent attendance to his ferry, and shall not deny or unnecessarily delay the carrying over any passenger, horses, cattle, vehicles or goods under the penalty of three dollars for every such offense. He shall also be liable to an action for damages, at the suit of the party aggrieved. This section shall not require a ferryman to put off from his wharf or shore when it is manifestly hazardous so to do.

N.J. Stat. § 48:8-6 § 48:8-6

Every ferryman may exclude or eject from his ferryboat or other vessel any person who shall attempt to enter, or enter or stay therein contrary to the order of the ferryman. The person so doing contrary to his order shall be liable to a penalty of one dollar for every offense.

N.J. Stat. § 48:8-7 Persons carried according to arrival; penalty

All persons shall be received into the ferryboats or vessels and carried over the ferry according to their arrival at the ferry, provided all public officers and such as go on public or urgent occasions, as posts, couriers, physicians and midwives, shall be given preference. Any ferryman violating this section shall be liable to a penalty of three dollars for every such offense.

N.J. Stat. § 48:8-8 Maintenance of safe landing places

48:8-8. All owners or keepers of ferries shall construct and maintain safe places of landing, where they are needed, upon penalty of forfeiting such sum as the Superior Court shall, upon complaint, determine to be sufficient to construct or repair such convenient landing. The forfeiture shall, by order of said court, be appropriated and laid out for that purpose. Amended 1962,c.198,s.97; 1991,c.91,s.471.

N.J. Stat. § 48:8-9 § 48:8-9

The penalties imposed by this article, except section 48:8-8 of this title, shall be recoverable by action at law, with costs, by any person who will sue for the same.

N.J. Stat. § 48:8-10 Stopping boat while receiving and discharging passengers; penalty; liability for injuries

Every steamboat navigating waters within the jurisdiction of this state shall be stopped for at least one minute and as much longer as shall be necessary for the safety of passengers while they are landing from or going on board the steamboat, either immediately from or upon the shore or from or upon another boat or vessel lying between the steamboat and the shore. Every master or other person in charge of a steamboat who shall violate this section shall be liable to a penalty of two hundred and fifty dollars for every such offense; and the owner of the steamboat shall be liable for all damages sustained by any person injured thereby.

N.J. Stat. § 48:8-11 Stopping engine while discharging passengers into small boats; penalty

No passenger on any steamboat navigating the waters within the jurisdiction of this state shall be put into any small boat for the purpose of being landed until the engine of the steamboat is stopped. The engine shall not be again started until the small boat be at least twenty yards from the steamboat, or shall have reached the landing place if that be within said distance. The master or other person having charge of a steamboat who shall violate this section shall be liable to a penalty of one hundred dollars. This section shall not extend to any case where the person having charge of a small boat not belonging to the steamboat shall willfully or unnecessarily stop the small boat within the distance of twenty yards.

N.J. Stat. § 48:8-12 Running steamboats against each other; penalty; damages

When two steamboats are moving in the same direction in waters within the jurisdiction of this state, neither shall be willfully so navigated as to run against, hinder or delay the other, or to run her aground, or to injure or impede her or unnecessarily to approach her within the distance of twenty yards. Every master or other person in charge of a steamboat who shall violate this section shall be liable to a penalty of one hundred and fifty dollars. The owner or owners of the steamboat shall be jointly and severally liable for all damages occasioned by such offense.

N.J. Stat. § 48:8-13 Deviating from course to impede boat passing in same direction; penalty; damages

When a steamboat navigating the waters within the jurisdiction of this state shall attempt to pass another boat going in the same direction, the master or person having charge of such other boat shall not cause her to deviate from her proper course for the purpose of hindering or delaying the steamboat so attempting to pass. Every master or other person having charge of any steamboat who shall violate the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished by a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars or imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both. The misdemeanor shall be indictable in the county adjoining the waters upon which the offense is committed. The owner or owners of any steamboat deviating as aforesaid shall be jointly and severally liable for all damages occasioned by such offense.

N.J. Stat. § 48:8-14 Steamboats passing nearer than ten yards; penalty

Neither of two steamboats meeting each other while going in opposite directions upon the waters within the jurisdiction of this state shall be so navigated as unnecessarily to approach the other to within the distance of ten yards. Every master or other person having charge of any steamboat who shall violate this section shall be liable to a penalty of fifty dollars.

N.J. Stat. § 48:8-15 Lights on steamboats navigated at night; penalty; damages

Every steamboat navigating the waters within the jurisdiction of this state at night shall show a good and sufficient light near her bows and another near her stern; the latter to be at least twenty feet above her deck. The master or person having charge of every steamboat navigated in violation of this section shall forfeit two hundred dollars. The owner or owners of every steamboat navigated in violation of this section shall be jointly and severally liable for all damages occasioned by such offense.

N.J. Stat. § 48:8-16 § 48:8-16

The owner or master of every steamboat navigating the waters within the jurisdiction of this state shall keep a copy of this article posted up in some conspicuous place in the cabin of the boat under a penalty of twenty-five dollars for every neglect herein and such owner and master are hereby made jointly and severally liable for such penalty.

N.J. Stat. § 48:8-17 Actions for penalties; process

48:8-17. The penalties imposed by this article shall be recoverable by action at law, with costs, in any court having cognizance thereof, by any person who will sue for the same. Whenever any action for the recovery of any such penalty is prosecuted it may be commenced by capias ad respondendum or summons, any law, usage or custom to the contrary notwithstanding. Amended 1962,c.198,s.98; 1991,c.91,s.472.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026