Borough of Chester, NJ Chapter 153 Horse-Drawn Carriage Tours

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Chester 10-21-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 153-1 Definition.

The following term shall have the following meaning:

HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE

A nonmotorized carriage, buggy, wagon or cart which is drawn, pulled or towed by a horse, pony or similar animal. By way of example, a permitted horse-drawn carriage may include hayrides or hansom cab tours.

§ 153-2 License limitations.

A holder of a horse-drawn carriage tour license may operate not more than one carriage under a single license. Prior to commencement of any horse-drawn carriage tour operation, the licensee shall:

A. File the tour route, times and rates with the Borough Clerk.

B. Secure approval of the Chief of Police for the routes and times of the horse-drawn carriage tour(s), including approval of a designated staging area and loading and unloading zone, which shall not be located on Main Street.

C. Prominently display the tour rates on the vehicle(s).

D. Submit satisfactory evidence to Borough Clerk of liability insurance coverage for both the Borough and licensee with limits of $500,000 per person and $1,000,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and $50,000 per occurrence for property damage.

E. Execute indemnification/hold harmless agreement with Borough on forms approved by the Borough Attorney.

F. Secure approval of the Chief of Police as to condition of the carriage(s) and/or horses to be used for compliance with Title 39 of the Revised Statutes and public safety.

G. Pay the fee set forth in § 127-1 as periodically amended.

H. Submit to the Borough Clerk the type and style of carriage to be employed and written authorization of private property owner as to staging area.

I. Secure all approvals required from all other governmental bodies and agencies having jurisdiction over the matter.

J. Secure the approval of the Zoning Officer as to the size, type, location and content of any signs associated with the horse-drawn carriage ride operation or ticket sales areas.

K. Provide a veterinarian certificate every six months indicating that each horse employed in the operation is in good health and free from disease and injury.

§ 153-3 Special regulations.

Operators of horse-drawn carriage tours, licensed pursuant to the provisions this chapter, shall comply with the following regulations:

A. All horse-drawn carriage rides may take place between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

B. All horse-drawn carriage operators shall comply with any and all applicable provisions of Title 39 of the Statutes of the State of New Jersey.

C. Rates for horse-drawn carriage rides must be conspicuously posted on the carriage.

D. Horse(s) and carriage(s) shall be subject to periodic safety inspection(s) as may be deemed necessary by the Chief of Police and/or Zoning Officer.

E. Operator(s) of horse-drawn carriage tour(s) shall be required to clean up after the horse(s) and remove all wastes deposited on municipal streets no later than midnight of the day of the tour operation.

F. No more than a total of four horse-drawn carriage tour licenses shall be issued in any calendar year.

§ 153-4 License fee.

A license fee as established in Chapter 127, Fees, shall be submitted to the Borough Clerk with each license application.

§ 153-5 Violations and penalties.

Any horse-drawn carriage tour operator who shall fail to comply with any requirement, rule or regulation set forth herein shall be subject to the general penalty provision of the Borough's General Ordinances (§§ 1-17 through 1-20). In addition, the Borough Council, in the Council's sole discretion, may revoke a horse-drawn carriage tour operator's license for failure to comply with any license requirement.