[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township
of Vernon 8-2-1982 by Ord. No.
82-16. Amendments noted where applicable.]
It shall be unlawful to interfere with, attempt to interfere
with, conspire to interfere with, obstruct or restrict the mobility
of or block the path of travel of any Fire Department emergency vehicle
in any way, or to interfere with, attempt to interfere with, conspire
to interfere with, obstruct or hamper any Fire Department operation.
A person shall not willfully fail or refuse to comply with any
lawful order or direction of any fire official or to interfere with
the compliance attempts of another individual.
A vehicle shall not be driven or propelled over any unprotected
fire hose of the Fire Department when laid down on any street, alleyway,
private drive or any other vehicular roadway without the consent of
the fire official in command of said operation.
It shall be unlawful for the operator of any vehicle, other
than one on official business, to follow closer than 300 feet from
any fire apparatus traveling in response to a fire alarm, or to drive
any vehicle within the block or immediate area where fire apparatus
has stopped in answer to a fire alarm.
A person shall not, without proper authorization from the fire
official in charge of said Fire Department emergency equipment, cling
to, attach himself to, climb upon or into, board or swing upon any
Fire Department emergency vehicle, whether the same is in motion or
at rest, or sound the siren, horn, bell or other sound-producing device
thereon, or to manipulate or tamper with, or attempt to manipulate
or tamper with any levers, valves, switches, starting devices, brakes,
pumps, or any equipment or protective clothing on, or a part of, any
Fire Department emergency vehicle.
It shall be unlawful for any person to damage or deface, or
attempt, or conspire to damage or deface any Fire Department emergency
vehicle at any time, or to injure, or attempt to injure or conspire
to injure Fire Department personnel while performing departmental
duties.
It shall be unlawful to obscure from view, damage, deface, obstruct
or restrict the access to any fire hydrant or any Fire Department
connection for the pressurization of fire suppression systems, including
fire hydrants, Fire Department connections, and standpipes that are
located on public or private streets and access lanes, or on private
property.
A person shall not use or operate any fire hydrant intended
for use of the Fire Department for fire suppression purposes unless
such person first secures a permit for such use from the fire official
and the water company having jurisdiction. This section shall not
apply to the use of such hydrants by a person employed by, and authorized
to make such use by, the water company having jurisdiction.
[Amended in entirety 4-27-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-09]
A.
Parking in fire zones and lanes prohibited. Parking of a vehicle
or vehicles in any area demarcated by yellow or white lines or signs
designating the location of a fire zone or fire lane is prohibited.
B.
Enforcement. The Fire Marshal and the Police Department shall have
concurrent jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this Section.
C.
Violations and penalties. Every person violating this Section shall,
upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not less than $75 nor more
than $200 and/or community service for up to 30 days.
D.
Removal of vehicle as additional penalty. In the event that any vehicle
is parked in violation of a designated fire zone or lane, and, in
the opinion of the Police Department or Fire Marshal, the vehicle
would substantially impair the ability of emergency services to respond
in the event of an emergency, the vehicle may be towed at the owner's
expense.
[Amended in entirety 4-27-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-09]
Unless otherwise expressly provided for in the Township Code,
enforcement, violations and penalties of this Chapter shall be assessed,
levied and collected as set forth in the Uniform Fire Safety Act,
the Uniform Fire Code (more particularly N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.12, Penalties,
and N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.13) and all other applicable laws of the State
of New Jersey, as same may be amended.
