[Added 9-12-2017 by Ord.
No. 17-17]
The Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Council, may appoint
one or more parking enforcement officers, to serve at the pleasure
of the governing body.
In accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:9-154.7 et seq., parking enforcement
officers shall enforce state, county or municipal statutes, resolutions,
ordinances or regulations related to the parking of vehicles within
the Borough. A parking enforcement officer shall possess the power
and authority to:
A.
Issue a parking ticket for a parking offense, as those two terms
are defined in the Parking Offenses Adjudication Act, P.L. 1985, c.
14 (N.J.S.A. 39:4-139.2 et seq.);
B.
Serve and execute all process for any parking offense issuing out
of the court in the Borough having jurisdiction over the complaint;
and
C.
Cause any vehicle parked, stored or abandoned in the Borough in violation
of a statute, resolution, ordinance or regulation to be towed away
from the scene of the violation and to collect from the vehicle owner
or the owner's agent, on behalf of the Borough, the costs of the towing
and subsequent storage of the vehicle before surrendering the vehicle
to the owner or agent.
A parking enforcement officer is not a special law enforcement officer within the meaning of the Special Law Enforcement Officers Act, P.L. 1985, c. 439 (N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.8 et seq.), and is not a member of the police force of the Borough. Parking enforcement officers shall, however, serve under the direction of the Chief of Police. No parking enforcement officer may carry or use a firearm while on duty. A parking enforcement officer is deemed to be on duty while the officer is performing the public safety functions enumerated in § 34-50 and for which the officer is receiving compensation, if any, from the Borough at the rates or stipends as established by ordinance.
No person may be appointed as a parking enforcement officer
unless, at a minimum, the person:
A.
Is a resident of this state during the term of appointment;
B.
Is able to read, write, and speak the English language proficiently;
C.
Has the mental capacity and physical ability to perform the tasks
of parking enforcement officer;
D.
Is of good moral character; and
E.
Has not been convicted of any offense involving dishonesty or which
would make the person unfit to perform the duties of the office.
A.
An applicant for the position of parking enforcement officer appointed
pursuant to this act shall have fingerprints taken, which fingerprints
shall be filed with the Division of State Police and the Federal Bureau
of Investigation.
B.
Before any parking enforcement officer is appointed pursuant to this
act, the Chief of Police or other chief law enforcement officer of
the Borough shall ascertain the eligibility and qualifications of
the applicant and report these determinations in writing to the Mayor
and Council.
No person appointed after the effective date of this article
may commence duties as a parking enforcement officer unless that person
has successfully completed a training course conducted or approved
by the Chief of Police. The appropriate authority may waive this training
requirement for any person otherwise eligible to be appointed as a
parking enforcement officer under this article if the person possesses
substantially equivalent training and background, as determined by
the Chief of Police.
Prior to the commencement of duties, every parking enforcement
officer shall be furnished with a uniform which shall clearly identify
the officer's function. The uniform shall include, but not be limited
to, a hat and appropriate badges which shall bear an identification
number or name tag and the name of the Borough. The uniform shall
also include an insignia issued by the Borough which clearly indicates
the officer's status as a parking enforcement officer. The uniform
shall be distinct in color from the uniform of a regular police officer
or special law enforcement officer.
The Borough may charge a reasonable fee, as determined by the
Council, for uniforms supplied pursuant to this article, but shall
not charge a fee for the costs of required training or the issuance
of a certificate of appointment.
