The purpose of this chapter is to increase access to public buildings by handicapped persons pursuant to local needs and direction provided by P.L. 1989, Ch.
201, parking spaces for the physically handicapped.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
HANDICAPPED PERSON
A person who may be classified as having a physical impairment
which manifests itself in one or more of the following ways: nonambulatory;
semiambulatory; visually impaired; deaf or hard of hearing; having
faulty coordination; or having reduced mobility, flexibility, coordination
or perceptiveness due to age, physical or mental condition.
PUBLIC BUILDING
Any building, structure, facility or complex used by the
general public or to which the general public is invited, including
but not limited to theaters, concert halls, auditoriums, museums,
schools, libraries, recreation facilities, office buildings, shopping
centers, hotels or motels and public eating places, whether privately
or publicly owned, except that this term shall not include one- to
four-family housing units.
The owners of all public buildings which provide parking spaces
adjacent to or used in conjunction with the public building, shall
provide and thereafter maintain parking spaces for handicapped persons
in accordance with the guidelines herein set forth, and in a location
and manner as determined by the Construction Official. Housing complexes
shall identify handicapped parking spaces whenever a handicapped person
is a resident of such a complex. This space shall be designated by
the owner and/or manager of the building.
Parking spaces for the handicapped shall be constructed according
to the guidelines set forth in Subchapter 7 of the Uniform Construction
Code.
No person shall park a vehicle in any parking space designated
and marked as being set aside for the physically handicapped in any
parking facility, unless the operator or passenger of the vehicle
is the holder of an identification card issued pursuant to P.L. 1949,
c. 280, N.J.S.A. 39:4-204, and Section 1 of P.L. 1977, c. 202, N.J.S.A.
39:4-197.5 hereof, and the operator's vehicle shall have affixed
thereto an identification certificate or marker issued by the New
Jersey Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles or Temporary Permits
issued by the Chief of Police for handicapped individuals upon verification
by a physician.
Unless another penalty is expressly provided by New Jersey statute,
every person convicted of a violation of a provision of this chapter
or any supplement thereto shall be liable to a penalty of not more
than $100 for the first offense and for subsequent offenses, a fine
of $100 and up to 90 days community service on such terms and in such
form as the court shall deem appropriate, or in any combination thereof.