Township of Commercial, NJ Rules and Regulations

It is hereby declared to be for the best interest, health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of Commercial Township that regulations be promulgated for the control of public parks and playgrounds in the Township of Commercial.

Except as provided herein, it shall be unlawful for any person to be in or upon any of the public parks and playgrounds and playgrounds administered by the Township after the hour of 10:00 p.m. and before the hour of 8:00 a.m.

A.

Each person, firm or corporation using the public parks and playgrounds shall:

(1)

Clean up all debris, and leave the premises in good order and the facilities in a neat and sanitary condition.

(2)

Comply with all applicable provisions of the state motor vehicle traffic laws in regard to equipment and operation of vehicles, together with such regulations as are contained in this article and other ordinances.

(3)

Obtain the written permission of the designated Recreation Committee before bringing any buses or charter groups into the park premises.

B.

Prohibited acts. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation using such parks and playgrounds to either perform or permit to be performed any of the following acts:

(1)

Property. No one shall:

(a)

Willfully mark, deface, injure, disfigure, tamper with, displace or remove any building, bridges, tables, benches, railings, paving or paving material; waterlines or other public utilities, or parts or appurtenances thereof; signs, notices or placards, whether temporary or permanent; monuments, stakes, posts or other boundary markers; or other structures or equipment, facilities or park or playground property or appurtenances whatsoever, either real or personal.

(b)

Throw, discharge or place or cause to be placed in the waters of any pond, lake, stream or other body of water in or adjacent to any park or any tributary, stream, storm sewer or drain flowing into such waters any substance, matter or thing, liquid or solid, which will or may result in the pollution of said waters.

(c)

Bring in or dump, deposit or leave any bottles, broken glass, ashes, paper, boxes, cans, dirt, rubbish, waste, garbage, refuse or other trash. No such refuse or trash shall be placed in any waters in or contiguous to any park or playground or be left anywhere on the grounds thereof, but shall be placed in the proper receptacles where these are provided. Where receptacles are not so provided, all such rubbish or waste shall be carried away from the park or playground by the person responsible for its presence and properly disposed of elsewhere.

(d)

Damage, cut, carve, transplant or remove any tree or plant or injure the bark or pick the flowers or seeds of any tree or plant; nor shall anyone attach any rope, wire or other contrivance to any tree or plant. A person shall not dig or otherwise disturb grass areas or in any other way injure or impair the natural beauty or usefulness of any area.

(2)

Domestic animals. No animals shall be permitted on premises, except horses in designated areas.

(3)

Wild animals. No one shall: hunt, molest, harm, frighten, kill, trap, chase, tease, shoot or throw stones or any missiles at or give or offer any poisonous goods to any animal, reptile, bird or the eggs of same.

(4)

General conduct. No one shall:

(a)

Bring in or upon, have brought in or upon or cause to be brought in or upon the park, or the grounds thereof, any alcoholic beverage or illegal drug, or sell, purchase, consume or drink any alcoholic beverage or illegal drug at any time in the park.

[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]

(b)

Bring in or cause to be brought in or have in his or her possession or set off or otherwise cause to be exploded, discharged or burned any firecracker, torpedo, rocket or other fireworks or explosive or flammable material, or discharge them or throw them into any area of the park upon the land adjacent thereto.

(c)

Build or attempt to build a fire except under such regulations as may be adopted from time to time by the Township Committee. No person shall drop, throw or otherwise scatter lighted matches, burning cigars or cigarettes, tobacco or any other flammable material within the park.

(d)

Engage in any disorderly conduct or a behavior tending to cause a breach of the public peace. No person shall disturb or otherwise interfere with any other person or group of persons occupying any area or engaging in any organized activity.

(e)

Sell or offer for sale any object or merchandise or any other thing within the parks or playgrounds or place any other equipment or apparatus within the parks or playgrounds, except by permit issued by the Township Committee.

(f)

Remove or open permanent or temporary barriers, signs, directionals, gates or fences,

(g)

Picnic or lunch in a place other than one designated for that purpose.

(h)

Endanger the safety of any person by any conduct or act.

(i)

Prevent any person from using any park or playground or any of its facilities or interfere with such use in compliance with this chapter and the rules applicable to such use.

(j)

Fail to obey or interfere with any Police Officer, Township Official or employee in the proper performance of his duties.

(k)

Leave any motor vehicle overnight.

(l)

Leave bicycles, except in designated areas.

(m)

Ride bicycles or other vehicles without regard to the safety of others.

(n)

Ride a horse, except in areas designated for such use.

(o)

Gamble.

(p)

Camp, except with the written permission of the Recreation Committee.

A.

The Township Clerk shall, in connection with his duties, enforce the provisions of this chapter and, in furtherance of those duties, may designate such enforcement to the Recreation Committee or such other persons employed or appointed by the Township.

B.

The Township Clerk or those designated by the Township Committee, including members of the New Jersey State Police, shall have the authority to eject from the parks and playgrounds area any person or persons acting in violation of this chapter.

C.

Any properly designated Law Enforcement Official shall have the authority to seize, confiscate, hold and/or retain, subject to the constraints of due process of law, any property, thing or device used in violation of this chapter in any public park and/or playground.

D.

The Recreation Committee shall have the authority to adopt rules and regulations to be implemented after approval by the Township Committee. Said rules will be posted in a conspicuous place.

[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]

Any person or persons found to be in violation of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine not exceeding $2,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days or a period of community service not exceeding 90 days, or any combination thereof.