[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Bridgeton 2-1-2011 by Ord. No. 10-21. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Motorized vehicles — See Ch. 221.
Taxicabs — See Ch. 321.
Traffic violations — See Ch. 338.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 350.
A. 
The City of Bridgeton hereby determines to investigate, install and utilize a traffic control signal monitoring system ("system") at intersections under its jurisdiction where data has shown a high level of violations and/or frequency of collisions, and as shall be approved by the Commissioner of Transportation pursuant to the statute.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: "The statute" refers to N.J.S.A. 39:4-8.13 et seq.
B. 
The system to be installed shall be approved by the City Council of the City of Bridgeton by resolution.
C. 
The City of Bridgeton shall have the authority to enter into a contract, following a lawful procurement process, for the installation of the system. Any contract that shall contain provisions contrary to the statute shall not be deemed invalid but rather reformed to conform to the statute.
D. 
The signs notifying drivers that a system is being utilized shall be approved by the Municipal Engineer, and shall be placed on each street converging into the affected intersection as required by the statute.
E. 
The Municipal Engineer shall inspect and certify the system at least once every six months from the date of its installation.
The Police Department of the City of Bridgeton shall review the recorded images produced by the system to determine whether sufficient evidence exists demonstrating that a traffic control signal violation has occurred and shall issue a summons within 90 days from the date on which the violation occurred.
A. 
Except as otherwise provided in this section, the recorded images produced by the system shall be available for the exclusive use of the Police Department for the purpose of discharging his or her duties under the statute.
B. 
Any recorded image or information produced in connection with the system shall not be deemed a public record under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq., or under common law. The recorded images shall not be:
(1) 
Discoverable as a public record by any person, entity, or governmental agency, except upon a subpoena issued by a grand jury or a court order in a criminal matter; or
(2) 
Offered as evidence in any civil or administrative proceeding not directly related to a traffic control signal violation.
C. 
Any recorded image or information collected in connection with a traffic control signal violation shall be purged and shall not be retained after 60 business days following the collection of any fine or penalty.
D. 
If a summons is not issued within 90 business days following the traffic control signal violation, all recorded images and any information collected with respect to the traffic control signal violation shall be purged within three business days.
E. 
The City of Bridgeton shall certify compliance of this section by filing a report with the Commissioner of Transportation in accordance with the statute.
A. 
Except as set forth hereafter, the owner and operator shall be jointly liable for a traffic control signal violation summons issued pursuant to a traffic control signal monitoring system established under N.J.S.A. 39:4-8.13 et seq., unless the owner can show that the vehicle was used without consent of the owner, expressed or implied.
B. 
An owner who pays any fine, penalty, civil judgment, costs or administration fees in connection with a traffic signal control violation issued pursuant to a traffic control signal monitoring system shall have the right to recover that sum from the operator in a court of competent jurisdiction.
C. 
The owner of a motor vehicle who is a lessor shall not be liable for a traffic control signal violation summons issued pursuant to the statute when the motor vehicle is under the control or in the possession of the lessee, if upon notice of a traffic control signal violation, the owner of the motor vehicle which was leased at the time of the offense notifies the City of Bridgeton's Municipal Court Administrator by affidavit of the name and address of the lessee. The affidavit shall be in a form prescribed by the Administrative Director of the Courts. After providing the name and address of the lessee, the owner shall not be required to attend a hearing of the offense, unless otherwise notified by the court.
Any person liable for a traffic control signal violation, pursuant to the chapter and the statute, utilizing the system shall be subject to the following fines:
A. 
Violation: $85.
B. 
Late fee: $10.
The City of Bridgeton, upon installation of a traffic control signal monitoring system, shall prepare and file reports as required by the statute and Commissioner of Transportation.