[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Washington 9-6-1955. Amendments noted where applicable.]
For the purposes of this chapter, the terms used herein are
defined as follows:
A lightweight two-wheeled vehicle having wheels over 18 inches
in diameter, which is propelled by human power.
No person shall ride or propel a bicycle upon any street, public
highway, sidewalk or other public thoroughfare or property in the
Borough of Washington without first having secured a license therefor
in the manner herein provided and without having attached to such
bicycle a proper registration tag as hereinafter provided; provided,
however, that any bicycle which has been duly licensed by any other
New Jersey municipality and carries a current license tag shall be
considered as a licensed bicycle for the purpose of this chapter.
[Amended 3-16-1965; 11-7-2008 by Ord. No.
13-2008]
Upon application by the owner of the bicycle, the Chief of Police
or such public officer as he may deputize for such purpose shall issue
a registration card showing the name and address of the owner, the
make and the serial number of the bicycle, the number of the license
plate issued, the date of expiration of the license and the signature
of the licensing officer. Such license or registration card shall
be effective and valid only for the person to whom it is issued. The
license tag shall immediately be attached to and conspicuously displayed
on the bicycle at all times. All licenses shall expire on March 31
of each year.
Before the issuance of a license, the applicant shall be examined
by the licensing officer and shall furnish assurance that he is the
owner of the bicycle and that he has the ability to ride safely and
has a knowledge of the regulations governing the operation of bicycles,
as contained hereinafter. The bicycle shall also be inspected to determine
whether or not the same is in safe mechanical condition. No license
shall be issued for a bicycle which is in poor repair or in unsafe
mechanical condition or fails to carry safety devices, hereinafter
prescribed.
The following rules and regulations shall govern the operation
of bicycles in the Borough of Washington:
A.
Do not ride more than two abreast on any street or highway.
B.
Obey all traffic rules.
C.
Turn only at street intersections.
D.
Signal on all turns.
E.
Ride on the right-hand side of the traffic lane, street or highway,
in the direction of travel.
F.
Pass to the left when overtaking any vehicle that is slower moving.
G.
Pass to the right when meeting other vehicles.
H.
Stop at all stop signs.
I.
Keep bicycle in safe mechanical condition at all times, especially
brakes and steering device.
J.
Have proper lights when riding during the night hours, between 1/2
hour after sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise, also in foggy weather
or when vision is not clear 200 feet ahead. All bicycles must carry
reflector mirror or lighted lamp visible 200 feet from the rear when
conditions are as above stated.
K.
When bicycle is not in use, same must be held up by a "stander" so
that it will not impede pedestrian or vehicular travel.
L.
Do not hold on to any moving vehicle when riding a bicycle.
M.
Do not coast with both feet off the pedals.
N.
No trick riding permitted.
O.
Do not carry any other person on a bicycle built for one.
P.
Do not ride on icy pavements.
Q.
Do not carry large or bulky packages.
R.
All bicycles must have a bell or other sound device (no siren) audible
at a distance of 200 feet.
S.
License tag must be on bicycle at all times.
T.
Do not ride on sidewalks except in prescribed areas.
A.
Any police officer of the Borough of Washington may inspect any bicycle
at any time to ascertain whether or not it has a registration tag
properly displayed upon it or whether or not it is in proper mechanical
condition to be operated safely. In the event a bicycle is at any
time being used or operated without the aforesaid tag or is in such
condition as to be unfit for safe operation, or upon breach of any
of the above rules and regulations, the owner of the bicycle shall
be considered a violator of this chapter and the penalty for such
violation shall be the confiscation of the bicycle by the Police Department
for given periods at the discretion of the Police Chief or the Assistant
Chief. The bicycle shall be returned at the expiration of the term
by the Chief of Police upon payment of the following fees:
B.
Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall,
upon conviction, be punishable by a fine of not more than $500 or
by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not to exceed 90 days,
or by both such fine and imprisonment.
[Added 1-8-1974 by Ord. No. 34-73]
