[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Village of Ridgefield Park 9-24-1991 by Ord. No. 14-91 (Ch. 47 of the 1985 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 197.
A. 
There is hereby created in the Village of Ridgefield Park the position of "Parking Enforcement Officer." The Village shall have the authority to appoint those Parking Enforcement Officers that may be necessary to carry out the responsibilities the Village may have under the laws of the State of New Jersey and the ordinances and regulations of the Village of Ridgefield Park relating to the parking of vehicles within the municipality. The term of office for a Parking Enforcement Officer shall be for one year, from January 1 to December 31. A Parking Enforcement Officer may be reappointed annually, provided that the individual qualifies under the provisions of this chapter and there are sufficient funds allocated for that purpose in the Village's budget.
B. 
A Parking Enforcement Officer shall be appointed by the Village of Ridgefield Park in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:9-154.7 et seq.
C. 
All Parking Enforcement Officers shall have the authority to issue parking tickets, serve and execute process for parking offenses and to cause vehicles to be towed when necessary. Such responsibilities and duties shall be carried out in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:9-154.7 and the ordinances and regulations of the Village of Ridgefield Park relating to parking.
D. 
A Parking Enforcement Officer shall not carry or use a firearm while on duty but shall be deemed to be performing a public safety function while on duty.
E. 
The compensation for a Parking Enforcement Officer shall be set in accordance with the Village of Ridgefield Park's Salary Ordinance.
F. 
No person may be appointed as a Parking Enforcement Officer unless the individual meets the following qualifications:
(1) 
Is a resident of the State of New Jersey during the term of appointment.
(2) 
Is able to read, write and speak the English language well and intelligently.
(3) 
Is of sound and good health.
(4) 
Is of good moral character.
(5) 
Has not been convicted of any offense involving dishonesty or which would make the person unfit to perform the duties of this office.
A. 
All Parking Enforcement Officers shall be fingerprinted prior to commencing their duties, and their fingerprints shall be filed with the State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
B. 
The Chief of Police shall ascertain the eligibility and qualifications of the applicant and report his determination, in writing, to the Commission of Public Safety before any appointment is made.
C. 
All Parking Enforcement Officers shall complete a training course conducted or approved by the Village of Ridgefield Park, which requirement may be waived if the person proves to have had substantially equivalent training and background as determined by the Chief of Police.
D. 
All Parking Enforcement Officers shall be supplied with a uniform which shall clearly identify the officer's function, which uniform shall include but not be limited to a hat and an appropriate badge which shall bear the identification number or a name tag. The uniform shall include an insignia issued by the municipality clearly identifying the officer's status as a Parking Enforcement Officer. The uniform shall be different in color from the uniform of a regular police officer or special enforcement officer, and the municipality may issue temporary insignia for use prior to the issuance of permanent insignia.
E. 
The municipality may charge a reasonable fee for the issuance of the uniform, but no fee shall be charged for the training or for the issuance of the certificate of employment.