[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the City of Bordentown 4-21-1959; amended in its entirety 3-13-1995 by Ord. No. 1995-5. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Parks and recreation — See Ch. 206.
The purpose of this chapter shall be to:
A. 
Protect the general health, safety and welfare of the local residents and visitors to the City boat ramp.
B. 
Protect the City ramp, ramp area and parking lot.
C. 
Promote and provide a source of safe boating recreation access and to provide for an orderly procedure for the use of the ramp and ramp area by boaters and visitors alike.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BEACH MASTER
The individual or individuals employed by the City of Bordentown to oversee the boat ramp and beach area and who shall have full powers to issue violations and enforce the provisions of this chapter.
[Added 7-9-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09]
BOATS
All motorized or nonmotorized watercraft or vessels with a rigid hull, including all jet skis, waverunners, and similar vehicles.
[Amended 10-17-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-09]
LOCAL RESIDENT
A person owning a valid New Jersey driver’s license which lists upon it the applicant’s name and an address located within the municipal boundaries of those municipalities participating in the Community Education Recreation Program Agreement dated July 1, 1982, which now include the City of Bordentown, Bordentown Township, any person primarily employed by those municipalities, any members of the Bordentown Yacht Club or Yapewi Aquatic Club and any taxpayer of the City of Bordentown.
[Amended 9-9-1996 by Ord. No. 1996-13; 6-8-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-08]
NEW JERSEY STATE RESIDENT
A person owning a valid New Jersey driver's license which lists upon it the applicant's name and an address located within the State of New Jersey.
OUT-OF-STATE RESIDENT
All other applicants that are neither local residents or New Jersey State residents as defined herein.[1]
RAMP
A concrete ramp used for boat ingress and egress, as well as the portable wooden dock placed thereon during periods of use.
[1]
Editor’s Note: The former definition of "Public Officer," which immediately followed this definition, was repealed 7-9-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09. See now the definition of "Beach Master."
[Added 10-17-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-09]
No person shall be permitted to use the boat ramp or designated "trailer parking only" area without applying for and obtaining a permit from the City of Bordentown at the Municipal Offices, Police Department, 324 Farnsworth Avenue. Permits are required for each trailer or conveyance and for each boat, whether or not more than one boat is carried on a single trailer or conveyance. Applicants for a permit must provide proof of a valid registration for each boat and trailer, if applicable. Permit decals shall be affixed to each boat and each trailer or other conveyance. Issuance of permits shall be at the sole discretion of the City. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no permits shall be required for nonmotorized inflatable boats, canoes or kayaks.
[Amended 10-17-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-09]
Valid permits that have been torn or damaged may be replaced, provided that the registration number is visible and readable, by presenting the torn or damaged permit to the City of Bordentown Municipal Offices, Police Department, and paying the replacement permit fee as established by the Board of Commissioners, which shall be not less than $5.
[Amended 10-17-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-09; 4-8-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-06; 5-10-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-11]
Permits shall allow the holder to use the boat ramp and designated trailer parking area for the period for which the permit is issued. Permits are required from April 1 through November 1 each year. The boat ramp and designated parking area shall, nevertheless, be closed to all boats, trailers and vehicles between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. daily. The Board of Commissioners may authorize the issuance of and set fee for daily, weekly, monthly and/or annual permits.
A. 
Permit fees will be charged for the use of the ramp or the use of the designated trailer parking area or both as established from time to time by the Board of Commissioners.[1]
[Amended 11-13-1995 by Ord. No. 1995-18; 10-17-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-09]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 37, Fees and Licenses.
B. 
Permits will be valid for the calendar year for which they are issued.
[Amended 9-9-1996 by Ord. No. 1996-13; 7-9-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09]
[Amended 7-9-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09; 5-10-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-11]
A. 
Upon receiving a permit from the City, permit decals shall be conspicuously and permanently affixed to both the left front of the boat trailer and the side of the boat at the port bow. If no trailer is used to launch the boat, then the decal shall be conspicuously located on the side of the boat itself at the port bow.
B. 
No person shall park a vehicle which is not connected to a trailer in the areas designated for trailer parking only.
C. 
Parking shall be prohibited in the ramp parking lot during those hours that the ramp is closed to the public. Parking shall be prohibited on Park Street from Prince Street past the train trestle bridge on the hill leading down to the river.
D. 
All persons using the boat ramp and ramp parking lot shall obey all signs posted relative to parking and ramp use.
E. 
The Police Department, Beach Master or Supervisor of Public Works shall be empowered to cause any vehicle parked in violation of these provisions to be towed away at the owner's expense.
A. 
Boat restrictions; ingress and egress.
[Amended 9-9-1996 by Ord. No. 1996-13; 7-9-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09; 5-10-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-11]
(1) 
Mooring of boats shall not be permitted in any area of the boat ramp or adjacent park other than to the floating dock. Additionally, no boat or watercraft shall be beached in any part of the boat ramp area. The only exception would be for a personal watercraft breached for the express purpose of removing it from the water via the ramp, and only for such length of time it takes to reasonably do so.
(2) 
Boats and personal watercraft may only be launched in the designated ramp area.
(3) 
No boat or personal watercraft shall be permitted to be tied to the municipal ramp or ramp area for a period in excess of 10 minutes. No boats shall use the municipal ramp or beach area for picking up or discharging passengers. The only use of the ramp shall be for launching and retrieving boats and personal watercraft.
(4) 
It shall be unlawful to obstruct the use of the ramp and ingress or egress to the ramp, either from the parking area or from the water.
(5) 
Persons waiting to launch from the ramp, and to exit the water, shall proceed in an orderly, single-file manner.
(6) 
Boats passing within the vicinity of the ramp shall do so at slow speed so as to prevent the creation of wakes which may endanger the safety and welfare of the public or the property in the boat ramp area. No boat shall travel along the Crosswicks Creek within the City boundaries up to the light-rail trestle bridge at a speed greater than six miles per hour. Boats making wakes shall be subject to enforcement efforts from the City and state enforcement authorities.
(7) 
No boat shall be launched from a vehicle on the ramp which is not trailered; i.e., boats cannot be launched from the bed, roof or other section of a vehicle directly into the water. A properly permitted boat of appropriate weight and size may be manually transported to and launched from the ramp if said launching can be accomplished in a safe manner, which does not endanger the welfare of either those launching the boat or other persons using the ramp and ramp area. The determination of whether said launching can be safely accomplished rests solely with the City, and all decisions in this regard shall be final.
B. 
Regulations.
(1) 
Boat and trailer regulations. All boats and trailers using the municipal facilities must have valid registrations and any and all other state and federal permits that may be required.
(2) 
Vehicle repair. There shall be no repairing or maintenance, other than those necessitated by emergency, of vehicles, boats or trailers, in or around the ramp and the parking area.
(3) 
Loitering and/or fishing. There shall be no congregating or fishing allowed on the ramp area. All individuals shall follow the orders and directions of the Beach Master as to appropriate locations.
[Amended 7-9-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09]
(4) 
Swimming. There shall be no swimming in the entire municipal ramp area at any time.
(5) 
Alcoholic beverages. No alcoholic beverages shall be possessed or consumed in the municipal parking lot, on the boat ramp or in vehicles utilizing same.
[Amended 7-9-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09]
(6) 
No bicycles, scooters, skateboards, roller blades or other similar devices shall be permitted in the ramp and dock area at any time.
[Amended 7-9-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09]
(7) 
Removal of fire hazards. Any conditions about or around a boat declared to be a fire hazard in the judgment of the Fire Official, Chief of the Fire Department or Assistant Chief shall be removed by the owner or person in charge of such.
(8) 
Waste oil products. Waste oil shall not be deposited or disposed of into the waters of any stall or slip nor into the waters adjacent thereto or any municipal trash receptacle. All such products shall be removed from site in appropriate and approved containers and disposed of in accordance to state law or regulations.
[Amended 7-9-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09]
(9) 
No cooking or barbecues shall be allowed in the municipal parking lot or boat ramp area other than those areas specifically designated for same.
(10) 
Any and all litter generated by anyone using the municipal parking lot shall be completely removed and properly disposed of by said persons prior to leaving the area.
(11) 
While in the boat ramp and dock area, all persons age 12 and under shall wear a fitted and secured life vest, life jacket or personal flotation device (PFD) and be in the company of a person age 18 or over who shall take full responsibility for the minor child(ren). The life vest must carry a manufacturer imprint that it is a Type I PFD (off-shore), Type II PFD (near-shore buoyancy aid) or Type III PFD (flotation aid).
[Added 7-9-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09]
(12) 
All individuals shall follow the instructions, orders and directions of the Beach Master and all signs providing rules and regulation or directions for the safe use and operation of the ramp and surrounding areas.
[Added 7-9-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09]
All persons using the City boat launching ramp shall do so at their own risk. The City assumes no responsibility for theft, loss or damage to any boats or motor vehicles, or any equipment used in connection with them, or any personal injury that may occur to any person while using the municipal ramp or parking area in any fashion.
A. 
Any person who violates any one or more of the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 and/or a period of imprisonment not to exceed 30 days and/or a period of community service not to exceed 200 hours, or any combination thereof, for a first offense. For a second or subsequent offense, a violator shall be subject to a fine of not less than $250 nor more than $1,000 and/or a period of imprisonment not to exceed 60 days and/or to a period of community service not to exceed 60 hours or any combination thereof, and the City may, in its discretion, terminate that person's permit for the calendar year, and, in the case of willful violations, may permanently bar that person from the use of the boat ramp and municipal parking lot area adjacent thereto. In the case of a continuing violation or violations, such penalties may be assessed for each day that the violation or violations continue unabated, until such time as the violation or violations are corrected. A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.
B. 
The provisions of this chapter may be enforced by the Beach Master designated by the City, the Police Department, the Supervisor of Public Works or the State Marine Police, where applicable.
[Amended 7-9-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09]