[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Village of Ridgefield Park 7-26-1994 by Ord. No. 8-94 (Ch. 86 of the 1985 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
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[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also provided for the renumbering of former Subsection E as Subsection F.
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.