Whenever, in the judgment of the Mayor or, in the event of his inability
to act, a majority of the Township Committee determines that an emergency
exists within the Township of Washington or will exist as a result of mob
action, riots, disturbances, civil disobedience or disorderly assemblages,
or, whenever, in the judgment of the Mayor or, in the event of his inability
to act, a majority of the Township Committee determines that it is necessary
to preserve the public peace and order, he or they shall have power to impose
by proclamation any or all of the following regulations as they may deem necessary
and advisable in order to restore peace and order:
A. To impose a curfew upon all or any portion of the township,
thereby requiring all persons in such designated curfew areas to forthwith
remove themselves from the public streets, alleys, parks or other public places
or land abutting the same; provided, however, that physicians, nurses and
ambulance operators performing medical services, utility personnel maintaining
essential public services, firemen and township authorized or requested law
enforcement officers and personnel and any other class of persons may be exempted
from such curfew.
B. To order the closing of any business establishments anywhere
within the township for a period of the emergency or to impose such other
limitations on business activities or sales as may be necessary, including
but not limited to the ordering of the discontinuance of the selling, distributing
or giving away of gasoline or other liquid flammable or combustible products
in any container other than a gasoline tank properly affixed to a motor vehicle,
the ordering of the discontinuance of selling, distribution, dispensing or
giving away of any firearms or ammunition of any character whatsoever or the
display thereof.
C. To designate any public street, thoroughfare or vehicle
parking area closed to motor vehicles and pedestrian traffic.
D. To call upon regular and auxiliary law enforcing agencies
in organizations within or without the township to assist in preserving and
keeping the peace within the township.
E. To impose such other rules and regulations as may be
necessary to implement and carry out emergency control operations and to protect
the health, safety and welfare of the citizens and residents of the township.
The proclamation shall become effective upon its filing with the Clerk
of the Township of Washington.
The rules and regulations proposed by the proclamation shall remain
in full force and effect until amended or terminated by proclamation.
These powers shall be in addition to and supplemental with the authority
given to the Municipal Disaster Control Director pursuant to N.J.S.A. App.
A:9-40.5.
[Amended 11-8-1978]
Any person who violates any provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction
thereof, be punished by a fine not exceeding $500 or by imprisonment not exceeding
90 days, or both.