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Town of Southold, NY
Suffolk County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Southold as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Boats, docks and wharves — See Ch. 96.
Parking at beaches — See Ch. 189, Art. I.
[Adopted 2-10-1981 by L.L. No. 1-1981]
As used in this article, the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meanings given herein:
RECREATIONAL AREAS
Includes all parks, playgrounds, athletic fields, boat-launching ramps, all areas between the ends of highways and tidal waters and other recreational areas, including approaches, driveways, parking areas and buildings and structures located thereon, owned, leased or operated by the Town of Southold.
SUPERINTENDENT
The head of the Department of Public Works of the Town of Southold, who shall be in charge of all recreational areas.
VEHICLE
Any vehicle which is or may be mounted on wheels and is or may be propelled, either by its own power or by another power-driven vehicle to which it may be attached. The term shall include any trailer of any size, type or description.
No person in a recreational area shall:
A. 
Mark, deface, injure or damage any building, structure, property or equipment in or on any recreational area.
B. 
Dig and/or remove sand or gravel or other material from a recreational area, or cut, carve, remove or otherwise damage any tree or plant in such areas.
C. 
Hunt, molest, disturb, injure or kill any animal or mammal in or on any recreational area.
D. 
Bring in or dump, deposit or leave any bottles, broken glass, ashes, paper boxes, cans, dirt, rubbish, waste, garbage or refuse or other trash. No such refuse or trash shall be placed in any waters or left anywhere on the recreational area grounds, but shall be placed in the proper receptacles where these are provided. Where receptacles are not so provided, all such rubbish or waste shall be carried away from the recreational area by the person responsible for its presence and properly disposed of elsewhere.
A. 
No person in a recreational area shall:
(1) 
Fail to comply with all applicable provisions of the state motor vehicle traffic laws and the laws of the Town of Southold in regard to equipment and operation of vehicles.
(2) 
Fail to obey all traffic officers and recreational area employees, such persons being hereby authorized and instructed to direct traffic whenever and wherever needed in the recreational area and on the highways, streets or roads immediately adjacent thereto in accordance with the provisions of these regulations and such supplementary regulations as may be issued subsequently by the Superintendent.
(3) 
Fail to observe carefully all traffic signs indicating speed, direction, caution, stopping or parking and all others posted for proper control and to safeguard life and property.
(4) 
Ride or drive a vehicle at a rate of speed exceeding 10 miles per hour, except upon such roads as the Superintendent may designate by posted signs for speedier travel.
(5) 
Drive any vehicle on any area except the paved roads or parking areas or such other areas as may on occasion be specifically designated as temporary parking areas by the Superintendent.
(6) 
(Reserved)[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection A(6), regarding parking a vehicle in other than an established or designated parking area, was repealed 5-8-2007 by L.L. No. 12-2007.
(7) 
Fail to immediately notify an attendant of an emergency in the nature of a breakdown requiring the assistance of a tow truck, mechanic or other person.
(8) 
Fail to use a muffler adequate to deaden the sound of the engine in a motor vehicle.
(9) 
Repair, wash, wax or perform other maintenance on his or another vehicle.
B. 
The provisions of this article shall not apply to the following motor vehicles:
(1) 
Motor vehicles of the United States of America, the State of New York, the County of Suffolk, the Town of Southold and any agency, instrumentality or department thereof when used on official business or motor vehicles operated by officers or employees of such governmental agencies when used on official business.
(2) 
Motor vehicles commandeered for use by police officers in the performance of their duties.
(3) 
Ambulances or motor vehicles used as ambulances.
(4) 
Motor vehicles operated by a Fire Department or fire district in the performance of its duty.
(5) 
Motor vehicles used for launching and hauling boats at public boat launching sites.
[Added 8-13-2013 by L.L. No. 5-2013]
A. 
Dogs or other domestic animals are permitted on the following Town-owned recreation areas and subject to the following conditions:
(1) 
Parks, picnic areas, children's play areas, trails and/or athletic fields, if the dog or domestic animal is on a leash and restrained no more than four feet from the owner or custodian at all times.
(2) 
Beaches, if the dog or domestic animal is restrained on a leash, from May 1 through October 1 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
(3) 
Town-designated dog runs with no leash required.
B. 
Dogs or other domestic animals are not permitted on the following Town-owned recreation areas:
(1) 
Parks, picnic areas, children's play areas and/or athletic fields and trails that are posted with signage indicating "Dogs or Domestic Animals Prohibited";
(2) 
Designated bathing beaches during such times that a lifeguard is on duty. Designated bathing beaches include Goose Creek Beach, Kenny's Beach, Norman E. Klipp Marine Park Beach, McCabe's Beach, New Suffolk Beach, Southold Town Beach and any other bathing beach designated by the Town Board in a duly adopted resolution;
(3) 
Land that is within 50 feet of any recreation area that is posted for protection of piping plovers and other endangered species.
C. 
Unless otherwise stated herein, where dogs or domestic animals are permitted on Town-owned recreation areas, the dogs or domestic animals shall be under immediate supervision and control of the owner or custodian with the ability to immediately leash the dogs or domestic animals.
D. 
The leashing requirements of this section shall not apply to a dog or dogs hunting in the company of a hunter or hunters on recreational areas where hunting is permissible or to bona fide service dogs.
E. 
All dogs permitted on Town-owned recreation areas shall have a collar that adequately displays a valid dog license.
F. 
All dog or domestic animal waste shall be removed in accordance with § 83-28B.
No person shall:
A. 
Swim, bathe or wade in any waters or waterways in or adjacent to any recreational area except in such waters and at such places as are provided therefor and in compliance with such regulations as are herein set forth or may be hereafter adopted. Nor shall any person frequent any waters or places customarily designated for the purpose of swimming or bathing or congregate thereat when such activity is prohibited by the Superintendent upon a finding that such use of the water would be dangerous or otherwise inadvisable. Such designated bathing areas shall be kept free from any form of water equipment or other floating objects or any other form of device that, in the Superintendent's judgment, may cause inconvenience, injury or discomfort to bathers, except if such equipment is intended for the protection of life.
B. 
Frequent any waters or places designated for the purpose of swimming or bathing or congregate thereat except between such hours of the day as shall be designated by the Superintendent for such purposes for each individual area.
C. 
Erect, maintain, use or occupy on or in any beach or bathing area any tent, shelter or structure of any kind unless there shall be an unobstructed view into said tent, shelter or structure from at least two sides; nor shall any guy wire, rope or extension or exterior brace or support be connected or fastened from any such structure to any other structure, stake, rock or other object thereof.
D. 
Dress or undress on any beach or in any vehicle, toilet room or other place, except in such bathing houses or structures as may be provided for that purpose.
No person shall:
A. 
Bring into or operate any boat, raft or watercraft, whether motor-powered or not, upon any waters at places designated for bathing.
B. 
Fish offshore from Town-operated beaches, except from such portions thereof as may be staked off and posted therefor, nor shall any person at any time fish in any area while bathing is permitted.
No person shall hunt, trap or pursue wildlife at any time. No person shall use firearms of any description or air rifles, spring guns, bows and arrows, slings or any other forms of weapons potentially harmful to wildlife and dangerous to human safety or any instrument that can be loaded with and fire blank cartridges or any kind of trapping device. Shooting into recreational areas from beyond their boundaries is forbidden.
No person shall:
A. 
Picnic in a place other than those places designated for that purpose by the Superintendent. Recreation area representatives shall have the authority to regulate the activities in such areas, when necessary, to prevent congestion and to secure the maximum use for the comfort and convenience of all. Visitors shall comply with any directions given to achieve this end. All organized picnics and outings shall first obtain a special permit from the Superintendent.
B. 
Violate the regulation that use of the individual fireplaces, together with tables and benches, follows generally the rule of first come, first served, except if it is an organized picnic and exhibits a permit duly issued by the Superintendent.
C. 
Use any portion of the picnic areas or of any of the buildings or structures therein for the purpose of holding picnics to the exclusion of other persons, nor shall any person use such area and facilities for an unreasonable time if the facilities are crowded.
D. 
Ignite or maintain a fire on any beach or in any recreational area, except in a properly designated area and in fireplaces.
E. 
Leave a picnic area before a fire is completely extinguished and before all trash in the nature of boxes, papers, cans, bottles, garbage and other refuse is placed in the disposal receptacles where provided. If no such trash receptacles are available, then refuse and trash shall be carried away from the recreational area by the picnicker to be properly disposed of elsewhere.
No person shall take part in or abet the playing of any games involving thrown or otherwise propelled objects, such as balls, stones, arrows, javelins or model airplanes, except in areas set apart for such forms of recreation. The playing of active sports or games such as football, baseball and golf is prohibited except on the fields and courts or areas provided therefor.
[Amended 8-13-2013 by L.L. No. 5-2013]
No person shall:
A. 
Be present in any recreational area while under the influence of intoxicating liquor.
B. 
Build or attempt to build a fire except in such areas and under such regulations as may be designated by the Superintendent.
C. 
Fail to produce and exhibit any permit from the Superintendent which he/she claims to have upon request of any authorized person who shall desire to inspect the same for the purpose of enforcing compliance with any law or rule.
D. 
Disturb or interfere unreasonably with any person or party occupying any area or participating in an activity under the authority of a permit.
E. 
Erect any structure, stand or platform or hold any meetings, perform any ceremony, make a speech or address, exhibit any performance or form any parade or procession in any recreational area without first obtaining authorization.
Recreational areas shall be open to the public at such periods and during such hours as shall be fixed by resolution of the Town Board. It shall be the duty of the Superintendent to post notices of the opening and closing hours in each recreational area.
The Superintendent shall be authorized to otherwise set down rules and regulations that he may deem proper to maintain the safety and welfare of those persons using Town recreational areas as defined herein.
A. 
The Superintendent and recreational area personnel shall, in connection with their duties imposed by law, diligently enforce the provisions of this article.
B. 
The Superintendent, any recreational area personnel or members of the Southold Town Police Department have the authority to enforce and/or eject from the recreational area any person violating the provisions of this article or any other provisions of the law.
C. 
In addition to any other penalty as provided for by law, any person or persons, association or corporation committing an offense against this article or any section or provision thereof is guilty of a violation punishable by a fine not exceeding $250 or by imprisonment for a period not exceeding 15 days for each such offense, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
D. 
The Superintendent and any recreational area personnel shall have the authority to seize and confiscate any property, thing or device in the recreational area or used in violation of this article.
This article shall take effect immediately.