6:5-4. Manner of service upon Secretary of State; notice

Service of process upon the Secretary of State shall be made by leaving the original and a copy of the summons and 2 copies of the complaint, with a fee of $20.00 in the hands of the Secretary of State, or someone designated by him in his office, and such service shall be sufficient service upon the nonresident operator, pilot or owner, if

(a) Notice of such service and a copy of the summons, with a copy of the complaint, are forthwith sent by registered mail to the defendant by the Secretary of State, or someone designated by him in his office; and

(b) Defendant's return receipt and the affidavit of the Secretary of State, or such person in his office acting for him, of the compliance herewith, including a statement of the date of such mailing and of the receipt of the return card, are appended to the original of the summons and the other copy of the complaint and filed in the office of the clerk of the court wherein the action may be pending; or

(c) Notice of such service, with a copy thereof and the original and a copy of the summons and 2 copies of the complaint, are forthwith sent by registered mail by the Secretary of State, or the person in his office acting for him, to the sheriff or other process server in the jurisdiction in which the defendant resides, with directions that such sheriff or process server, or someone acting for such sheriff or process server, shall serve the same upon the defendant in the same manner as that in which service is legally effected in that jurisdiction, and the return of such sheriff or process server, or the person acting for such sheriff or process server in such jurisdiction, shall be appended to or endorsed, upon the original summons and a copy of the complaint, and returned to the Secretary of State, and thereafter filed in the office of the clerk of the court wherein the action may be pending in this State; or

(d) Notice of such service and a copy of the summons and complaint may be served on the defendant, personally, by an official or private individual, wherever such service may be made, and, upon service being so made, an affidavit shall be taken by the person affecting such service, showing the person served and the time and place of such service, which affidavit shall be appended, to the original summons and one copy of the complaint, and returned to the Secretary of State, and be thereafter filed in the office of the clerk of the court wherein the action may be pending in this State;

(e) Notice of such service and a copy of the summons and complaint may be served on the defendant in any other manner which the court wherein the case is pending shall deem sufficient and expedient.

If, by direction of plaintiff, notice of service is given as provided by paragraph "c" of this section, plaintiff shall, in addition to the fee of $20.00 required by the first paragraph of this section, deposit with the Secretary of State sufficient money to effectuate the same.

If notice of service is given as provided by paragraph "d" of this section, plaintiff shall pay the cost thereof.

L.1952, c. 199, p. 709, s. 4. Amended by L.1966, c. 91, s. 1, eff. July 1, 1966.