City of Somers Point, NJ Mercantile Licenses

For one musical instrument of any kind or character, mechanically or electrically operated, and including an organ or piano or any other instrument electrically or mechanically operated, except musical slot machines: $50.

For two or three instruments of any kind or character, mechanically or electrically operated, and including an organ or piano or any other instrument electrically or mechanically operated, except musical slot machines: $75.

For more than three musical instruments of any kind or character, mechanically or electrically operated, and including an organ or piano or any other instrument electrically or mechanically operated, except musical slot machines: $100.

Due date. All license fees shall be due and payable to the City Clerk on the first day of January of each year, the term thereof commencing on January 1 and expiring on December 31 thereafter.

Purpose. The fees herein imposed for such licenses are imposed for revenue.

§ 174-5 Conditions for issuance.

It shall be a condition of the issuance of any and all licenses under this chapter that said business shall be used and operated only for lawful purposes and not in violation of any ordinances, including zoning ordinances, of the City of Somers Point.

No license certificate shall be issued to any person who has not complied with the laws of the State of New Jersey or the ordinances of the Council of the City of Somers Point providing regulations respecting the safety of persons who may have occasion to use the premises, place or things licensed; and in case any person licensed fails to comply with such laws or ordinances after due notice of 10 days and an opportunity to be heard within 10 days thereafter, the Council of the City of Somers Point and/or the City Clerk acting as mercantile tax collector may revoke said license.

No license shall be granted for any theater, scenic theater, moving-picture show, dance hall or in any public place in which more than 50 people shall be present at any one time until the Electrical Inspector, Building Inspector, Plumbing Inspector, Board of Health, City Fire Chief and Fire Department all certify, in writing, to the mercantile tax collector that the applicant has complied with all the ordinances and regulations respecting protection of life and property relating to such places. The certificate of license shall be conspicuously displayed on the premises where the business is conducted.

§ 174-6 Certificate of nonviolation.

[Amended 9-22-2022 by Ord. No. 21-2022]

All new businesses must have certification from the Board of Health, Police Department, Building Inspector, Fire Inspector, Electrical Inspector and Plumbing Inspector that said business is not in violation of any ordinance of the City of Somers Point. No license will be issued or reissued to any business declared to be a nuisance or a possible nuisance.

§ 174-7 Transferability of license.

No license provided for by this chapter shall be transferred from one person to another person, and no license shall cover any other place of business other than that for which it was issued.

§ 174-8 Right of entry.

Every person conducting a business required to be licensed hereby shall permit the department heads or their accredited agents or assistants to have access to any building or premises for the purpose of ascertaining whether there has been compliance with the provisions of this chapter and other ordinances and to determine the fees to be paid, and any refusal thereof shall be deemed a violation of this chapter and be subject to the penalties.

§ 174-9 Enforcement.

[Amended 3-14-1991 by Ord. No. 6-1991]

Any proper officer be and is hereby authorized and directed to use such of the police force in the City as is necessary to execute and enforce all necessary and lawful police regulations that may best protect and facilitate the carrying on of the businesses, trades and occupations licensed by this chapter.

§ 174-10 Violations and penalties.

[Amended 3-14-1991 by Ord. No. 6-1991]

Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction in the Municipal Court of the City of Somers Point, be punished for each offense by a fine not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days in the county jail or any place provided by the municipality for the detention of prisoners or community service for a period not to exceed 90 days, or any combination of the foregoing. The Municipal Judge before whom any person is convicted of violating this chapter shall have the power to impose any fine or term of imprisonment not exceeding the maximum fixed in this chapter. Each day after the initial violation shall be considered a new and individual violation.

§ 174-11 Emergency assistance registration.

[Added 12-9-2010 by Ord. No. 24-2010]

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code, every business located in the City of Somers Point must have on file with the Police Chief an updated emergency information card that contains at least two names and phone numbers of those people to be contacted after business hours in reference to building security, damage or any occurrence that requires that access be gained to the facility in question. This requirement is mandatory whether or not the business is alarmed. This information should be updated annually, and changes should be reported immediately after they occur.

§ 174-12 Rental and use of electric personal assistive mobility devices.

[Added 6-26-2013 by Ord. No. 14-2013[1]]

Purpose; intent; limited use.

Except as provided in Subsection A(2) and (3), the use and operation of low-speed vehicles is prohibited under Chapter 250, Article VII, § 250-63. Except as provided in this section, the use and rental of low-speed vehicles, including electric personal assistive mobility devices, is not permitted within the City of Somers Point.

Rental of electric personal assistive mobility devices shall be permitted but shall be limited and controlled as provided in this section to protect the safety, health and well-being of all persons using such devices.

ELECTRIC PERSONAL ASSISTIVE MOBILITY DEVICE

No person, other than someone with a mobility-related disability, shall operate an electric personal assistive mobility device within the City of Somers Point, except such devices as have been rented for the limited use provided for within this section and subject to the terms and conditions imposed herein.

(4)

This section is intended to create a pilot program for a term not to exceed two years, unless otherwise extended or renewed by subsequent ordinance.

Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

A self-balancing, nontandem, two-wheeled device, designed to transport one person, which uses an electric propulsion system with average power of 750 watts (one horsepower), the maximum speed of which, on a paved level surface, when powered solely by such a propulsion system, while operated by a person weighing 170 pounds, is less than 20 miles per hour. The device shall not be considered a motorized wheelchair, motorized bicycle, motorcycle, motorized scooter, motorized skateboard, vehicle or motor vehicle.

LOW-SPEED VEHICLE

Those vehicles defined in § 250-62 of the Somers Point Municipal Code and in N.J.S.A. 39:1-1 et seq.

RENTAL

Includes leasing, hiring out or otherwise providing in exchange for payment without the transfer of ownership.

License required; fee.

No person shall engage in the business of renting electric personal assistive mobility devices within the City of Somers Point without obtaining a mercantile license in accordance with this section. The person to whom such a mercantile license may be issued for the purpose of leasing an electric personal assistive mobility device shall satisfy the following conditions:

(a)

Unless operated by a person with a physician certified mobility-related disability, no electric personal assistive mobility device is permitted on any public road, highway, sidewalk or bike path under the jurisdiction of the City of Somers Point except as part of a guided tour group as provided in Section 174-12.3.g.vi) 1., and using only the route approved by the Somers Point Police Department which shall not include operation along or in any street, road or highway having a posted speed in excess of 25 miles per hour (except for crossing such street, road or highway at signal controlled intersections);

(b)

Any person operating the device must be either: 18 years of age or older; or under 18, but 16 years of age or older, and accompanied by a parent or legal guardian aged 21 or older and who shall be a participant in the group tour; and the device shall not be operated by anyone other than the person who signs the rental agreement or, in the case of a person under the age of 18 but over the age of 16, by that person if the device has been rented by the parent or guardian accompanying the minor on the tour.

(c)

An operator of an electric personal assistive mobility device shall wear a helmet while operating that device.

(d)

Notice of the restrictions set forth in Subsection C(1)(a), (b) and (c) must be provided as part of the rental agreement or otherwise provided to each customer and shall be conspicuously posted on the premises where the rental takes place.

(e)

Any person renting an electric personal assistive mobility device must sign a document acknowledging that he or she has received training from the rental company on the safety features of the electric personal assistive mobility device and the limitations placed upon operation of the device under the terms of this section and New Jersey law. The document shall be maintained on file by the renter for a period of three years from the date of rental and shall be made available for inspection to any representative of the City of Somers Point upon demand.

(f)

Every electric personal assistive mobility device available for rental must meet all federal and New Jersey requirements and must be clearly marked as being a rental device owned by the company to which the mercantile license was issued.

(g)

The person or entity to which the mercantile license is issued must, at the time of application:

[1]

Present proof of general liability insurance, contractual liability insurance, automobile liability insurance and required workers' compensation insurance issued by an insurance carrier licensed to do business in the State of New Jersey. The policies of general liability, contractual liability and automobile liability insurance shall be properly endorsed to include the City of Somers Point, its elected and appointed officials, officers, agents, servants and employees and volunteers. The insurance policy limits shall be not less than $1,000,000 per incident and in the aggregate for the general liability, contractual liability and automobile liability policies and the statutory limits for workers' compensation.

[2]

A certificate of insurance with the proper endorsements shall be provided which shall be kept current during the term of the mercantile license and which shall provide for not less than 30 days' notice to the City of Somers Point in the event of termination or cancellation of the policy(ies) of insurance.

[3]

The mercantile license holder shall execute and deliver to the City an indemnification and hold-harmless agreement in a form approved by the City Solicitor and the City's Joint Insurance Fund Risk Manager.

[4]

If the rental operation is not to be carried on within a fixed structure within the City of Somers Point but is to be operated from a movable facility, the written consent of the property owner shall be filed with the license application, setting forth any conditions imposed by the property owner. No consent obtained from any property owner shall be valid if the use is determined at any time to be in violation of the Development Regulations of the City of Somers Point.[2]

[2]

Editor's Note: See Ch. 114, Development Regulations.

[5]

Pay a license fee in the amount of $250 for up to seven electric personal assistive mobility devices and $25 for each additional electric personal assistive mobility device.

[6]

Submit to the Somers Point Chief of Police for prior review:

[a]

The tour route(s), which shall allow for street crossings only at signalized intersections and which shall be limited in order to access the Route 52 bridge crossing to and from Ocean City, New Jersey;

[b]

The number of electric personal assistive mobility devices per tour guide (which shall be not more than six, plus a guide);

[c]

The maximum number of tours per day;

[d]

The days of operation;

[e]

The hours of operation;

[f]

The months of operation;

[g]

Approvals obtained from any state or county agency or authority, or a certification that no such approvals or consents are required;

[h]

Emergency plans in the event of accident or incident;

[i]

Agreement to comply with all emergency management orders and temporary orders issued by the Somers Point Police Department or other state or county body having jurisdiction over the roadways to be traveled; and

[j]

Such other information as the Police Department may request.

[7]

The applicant/license holder shall agree to comply with all terms, conditions and restrictions which may be imposed upon the license holder, and which shall be reduced to writing.

[8]

Review by the Somers Point Police Department shall not relieve the license holder or any device rental from any liability or responsibility; and the Police Department may supplement and amend the terms, conditions and restrictions at any time during the license term.

[9]

A signed certification that the license holder shall at all times during the term of the license comply with the requirements of the Somers Point Municipal Code, including the Development Regulations.

The term of the license shall be for one year, commencing on January 1 and ending on December 31. The fee shall not be prorated for portions of any year.

In the event the owner or operator of the electric personal assistive mobility devices offers for sale any other goods, materials, or services of any nature permitted by the Somers Point Municipal Code, separate mercantile or vendor licenses must be obtained as required by other provisions of the Code.

(4)

In no event shall the owner or operation of the rental facility offer electric personal assistive mobility devices for sale, nor shall the owner or operator be permitted to operate a repair shop for electric personal assistive mobility devices.

Penalties for violation of regulations on electric personal assistive mobility device rental, use and operation.

The mercantile license holder shall be fined $25 for the first violation of this section by an operator of an electric personal assistive mobility device rented to the operator by the license holder or its agents or employees. This shall be in addition to the fine imposed upon the operator under Subsection D(3) of this section.

For a second violation of this section, the license holder shall be fined $50 and the device which was being operated shall be impounded for a period of 15 calendar days. The violation need not be by the same operator of the electric personal assistive mobility device.