[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Washington
6-17-1997 by Ord. No. 97-10. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to revise standards and regulations for
no parking or standing in designated fire zones to ensure proper access for
emergency apparatus to and throughout the site(s) in question.
It shall be unlawful for any person to park or leave standing any vehicle
or place any obstruction on lands, whether publicly or privately owned, in
the Township of Washington after notice has been posted, as hereinafter provided,
by the owner, occupant, lessee or licensee prohibiting such parking.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have meanings indicated:
Areas designated by the Township Fire Official and properly posted
and marked in accordance with this chapter. The terms "fire zone" and "fire
lane" shall be interchangeable.
The Township of Washington official or his designated representative,
as defined in N.J.A.C. 5:18, the Uniform Fire Code.
A person who owns, purports to own, manages, rents, leases or exercises
control over a building, structure, premises or use or a portion thereof.
Any natural person or individual or any firm, partnership, association,
limited partnership, sole proprietorship, corporation or any other business
entity or any other government agency or entity.
This chapter shall be enforced by the Washington Township Police Department
and/or Township Fire Official or designated representative of the Township
of Washington or any other government official, whether employed by the Township
of Washington or other governmental agency, which has the power to enforce
the provisions of this chapter.
A.Â
The Fire Official shall designate fire zones on both
private and public property in the Township of Washington as deemed necessary
for public safety. He shall notify, in writing, the owner of said property,
specifically describing the designated areas and the Township of Washington
standard for posting and marking.
B.Â
The marking of fire zones shall be the responsibility
of and at the expense of the owner and shall be accomplished within 20 calendar
days of the receipt of the notification, except as noted below.
C.Â
Suitable signs and/or markings bearing the words "No
Parking - Fire Zone" shall be posted and marked and striped in accordance
with the standards established by the Fire Official and shall be properly
maintained on said lands by the owner, occupant, lessee or licensee thereof
where this chapter is effective and as are approved by the Fire Official.
Defacing, tampering with or damaging such signs or allowing them to deteriorate
so as to reduce their effectiveness to notify where posted shall constitute
a violation of this chapter.
D.Â
Irrespective of the subsections above, the fire zones
that have previously been designated and marked by both the Township Fire
Official and the Washington Township Planning Board at the Ames Plaza, Port
Colden Plaza and A&P Plaza within the Township of Washington shall be
marked immediately, if they are not already marked, and the provisions of
this chapter shall take effect immediately upon passage of this chapter upon
these zones irrespective of the statements above relative to marking, designation
and notice.
A police officer or other law enforcement officer or the Township Fire
Official or designee shall have the authority to remove or have removed such
obstructions or vehicles that may violate this chapter at the expense of the
owner of the premises in the case of an obstruction or at the expense of the
owner of the vehicle in the case of an obstruction or other violation.
A.Â
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter
shall, upon conviction in Municipal Court or any other court of competent
jurisdiction, be subject to a fine not to exceed $500 per violation or by
serving up to 90 days community service, or any combination deemed appropriate
by the court.
