No person under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages
shall consume any alcoholic beverages within the limits of the Township
of Washington, nor have in his or her possession any opened alcoholic
beverage container with any unconsumed alcoholic beverage therein,
while:
A. In or on a public street, lane, roadway, avenue, sidewalk, public
parking place, park, playground, recreation area, school building
or grounds or any other quasi-public place, not including any municipal
building other than school buildings, library or recreation facilities
aforesaid or in any other public conveyance.
B. In a private motor vehicle while the same is in motion or parked
in any public street, lane or public parking lot or other public or
quasi-public place.
C. Upon any private property not his or her own without the express
permission of the owner or other person having authority to grant
such permission.
Any person under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages
who knowingly possesses or consumes any alcoholic beverage in or on
any school property, public conveyance, public place, or place of
public assembly shall be in violation of this article of the Code.
Upon conviction, such underage person shall be subject to a fine of
$250 for a first offense and $350 for any subsequent offense; shall
perform community service for a period not to exceed 180 days; at
the discretion of the Court, have New Jersey driving privileges suspended
or postponed for six months; and if considered necessary by the Court,
be referred to an alcohol treatment program at such person's
expense.
This article shall not apply to persons under the legal age
to purchase alcoholic beverages who possess or consume alcoholic beverages
in the presence of and with the permission of the parent or legal
guardian of such person, provided that said legal guardian is of the
legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages, or if the alcoholic beverage
is being consumed in any religious observance, ceremony or rite. This
article shall not apply to possession of an alcoholic beverage by
an underage person employed by an alcoholic beverage licensee in the
course of performing employment duties.
Notwithstanding anything hereinabove contained to the contrary,
the Township Council, or any legally constituted municipal agency
of the municipality, may issue a permit for the possession or consumption
of alcoholic beverages in any designated park or other public place
under its jurisdiction at the designated time or times in connection
with a special event which shall have been authorized by the Township
Council or other legally constituted municipal body or agency having
the authority to issue such permits.
Any person, not underage, violating any provisions of this article
shall be subject to a fine not exceeding $250 for a first offense
and a fine of $350 for any subsequent offense.
The provisions of any alcoholic beverage ordinances heretofore
adopted by the Township of Washington which are inconsistent with
the provisions hereof are hereby superseded by the terms hereof.