This chapter shall be known and may be cited
as the "Business Hours of Operation Ordinance of the Village of Ridgefield
Park."
The purpose of this chapter is to regulate the
opening and closing hours of all business and commercial establishments
to which the public is invited in the interest of the protection of
employees, patrons and law enforcement officers. It has been determined
by the governing body of the Village of Ridgefield Park that unprotected
and understaffed business and commercial enterprises are prey to the
criminal element during the late night and early morning hours and
that certain measures must be taken in order to protect the general
public who use these establishments. Furthermore, the operation of
commercial establishments in areas adjacent to residential zones interferes
with the peace and quiet enjoyment of persons living in residential
zones and affects the residential property values where establishments
stay open continuously for 24 hours. In addition, the operation of
business establishments in the late evening and early morning hours
often leads to these establishments becoming areas where undesirables
gather. Finally, the operation of business establishments for twenty-four-hour
periods next to residential areas often leads to residences immediately
adjacent to those establishments deteriorating and becoming blighted.
No business or commercial establishment to which
the public is invited shall be open for business between the hours
of 12:00 midnight and 5:00 a.m. prevailing time unless:
A. Said establishment is a gasoline service station operation
in a PD-1 District where no cash except for small change is kept on
the premises after 12:00 midnight or before 5:00 a.m. prevailing time
and where such fact is announced to the public by prominently displayed
notices or advertisements on the premises.
[Amended 10-25-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-12]
B. Said establishment is a hotel or motel currently serving
transient guests.
C. Said establishment has been issued a valid New Jersey
license or permit for on-the-premises consumption of alcoholic beverages
and said establishment is currently serving alcoholic beverages pursuant
to that valid New Jersey license or permit.
D. Said establishment is a commercial movie theater that
does not sell tickets for admission after 12:00 midnight or before
5:00 a.m. prevailing time.
E. Said establishment is a convenience store located in the C-1(H) Central
Business Historic District, which keeps no cash except for small change
on the premises after 12:00 midnight and before 5:00 a.m. prevailing
time and where such fact is announced to the public by prominently
displayed notices or advertisements on the premises. For purposes
of this chapter, "convenience store" shall include drugstores and
any other store that carries a limited selection of basic items, such
as fresh and packaged foods, hot beverages, bakery items and newspapers,
for the convenience of shoppers.
[Added 11-23-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-11]
F. Security devices.
(1) All of the foregoing premises which remain open between
12:00 midnight and 5:00 a.m. prevailing time shall have in operation
a security device approved by the Chief of Police of the Village of
Ridgefield Park, which may consist of either a silent alarm and/or
audible burglar alarm connected to a central security monitoring system
designed to activate a police response or a closed-circuit television
connected to a central security monitoring system designed to activate
a police response or such other device which can be activated instantaneously
to notify law enforcement officers that a crime or disorderly persons'
activity is in progress.
(2) This security device shall be approved by the Chief
of Police of the Village of Ridgefield Park and installed within 120
days of the passage of this chapter.
[Amended 10-27-2009 by Ord. No. 09-11]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter shall be punishable, upon conviction, as provided in Chapter
1, General Provisions, Article
II, General Penalty.