[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council
of the Township of Moorestown 4-24-2006 by Ord. No. 7-2006. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
The Township Moorestown finds that fire hydrants
are being used by unauthorized persons for reasons other than fire
fighting. This situation creates a life safety hazard for the residents
of Moorestown and results in an expense to the Township due to the
taking of unmetered water. As Fire Districts 1 and 2 are invoiced
quarterly for the rental of fire hydrants by the Township of Moorestown
for use in fire fighting and the Township of Moorestown is responsible
for the safe and proper operation of these hydrants, the intent of
these regulations is to set penalties for unauthorized use of a fire
hydrant used to protect the public from the depletion of water supplies
necessary for fire fighting and damage caused by unauthorized use
due to the taking of unmetered water.
The use of all fire hydrants located within
the Township of Moorestown shall be regulated as provided herein.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
The employees of the Township of Moorestown Department of
Public Works.
The Chief of the Lenola Fire Company and/or Moorestown Fire
Department.
The Fire Company Line Officers of the Lenola Fire Company
and/or Moorestown Fire Department.
A water supply device installed for use in fire fighting.
The Fire Inspectors of the Bureau of Fire Prevention, District
2, and/or Division of Fire Prevention, District 1.
The Fire Official of the Bureau of Fire Prevention, District
2 and/or Division of Fire Prevention, District 1.
The police officers employed by the Township of Moorestown.
A.
No person, except fire fighters at fires or drills or Department of Public Works employees, shall be permitted to open, use or take water from a fire hydrant in the Township of Moorestown or to have the custody of any wrench or wrenches intended for use in connection with such fire hydrants without the authority of the Township except fire hydrants authorized for use through Chapter 175, Water and Sewers, Article I, § 175-16, Rule 14, of the Code of the Township of Moorestown.
B.
No person shall tamper or cause damage of any kind
to any fire hydrant in the Township of Moorestown.
Uniformed Fire Officials, Fire Inspectors of
the designated local enforcing agencies of the respective fire district
of the Township of Moorestown, Fire Chief and Fire Officers of the
Lenola Fire Company and Moorestown Fire Department, Moorestown Police
Officers and Moorestown Township Department of Public Works employees
are empowered to issue summonses to any offending party.
All such summonses shall be on a form cognizable
before the Municipal Court of the Township of Moorestown, and any
and all hearings to be held in connection with any summonses issued
hereunder shall be held before said Municipal Court.
A.
Any person, firm or corporation in violation of contributing
in any way to violation of this chapter or any part thereof shall
upon conviction be punishable by a fine as follows:
B.
Upon conviction, all penalties assessed as a result
of summonses issued by the Uniformed Fire Officials, Fire Inspectors,
Fire Chiefs and Fire Officers of their respective Fire Districts will
be paid thereafter by the Court Clerk to the Treasurer of the respective
Fire District.
C.
Upon conviction, all penalties assessed as a result
of summonses issued by the Moorestown Township Police Department will
be paid thereafter by the Court Clerk to the Treasurer of the Township
of Moorestown.
D.
Upon conviction, all penalties assessed as a result
of summonses issued by the Moorestown Township Department of Public
Works will be paid thereafter by the Court Clerk to the Treasurer
of the Township of Moorestown.
