[HISTORY: Adopted by Ord. No. 1908-06. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any inscription that is drawn, painted or otherwise made
on a bridge, building, public transportation vehicle, rock, wall,
sidewalk, street or other exposed surface on public or private, real
or personal property, without the prior written permission of the
owner of the property.
The Township of Lawrence.
A.
The Chief of Police or his designee will issue a written notice to
the owner of record of any building, structure or exposed surface
within Lawrence Township that contains graffiti. This written notice
shall be hand-delivered, or sent by certified and regular mail.
B.
The written notice shall order the owner to remove the graffiti within
90 days from the date the notice is sent, however, the Department
of Transportation shall be afforded 120 days from the date the notice
is sent.
C.
The written notice shall contain a form to be utilized by the property
owner to inform the Township that the graffiti has been removed. The
form shall contain a provision stating that by affixing a signature
to the form, the property owner is certifying that the graffiti has
been removed. The property owner is also certifying that the facts
set forth therein are true and that the certification shall be considered
as if made under oath and subject to the same penalties as provided
by law for perjury.
D.
The owner who has been ordered to remove graffiti shall respond to
the Chief of Police or his designee by personal delivery or by certified
mail:
E.
An owner who objects to an order to remove graffiti may institute
an action challenging the order in the Superior Court of New Jersey
- Mercer County within 60 days of the date of the order.
F.
If the property owner does not undertake the removal of graffiti
within 90 days of the date of the order, or 120 days for the Department
of Transportation, unless an action challenging the order to remove
graffiti is still pending, the Township may remove the graffiti from
that property using reasonable and customary methods for such removal.
The Director of Public Works will prepare an invoice with a detailed
itemization of the costs incurred by the Township. This invoice will
be mailed to the property owner by certified and regular mail for
reimbursement to the Township.
G.
Whenever the Township undertakes the removal of graffiti from any
building, structure, or exposed surface, the Township, in addition
to assessing the cost of the removal as a municipal lien against the
premises, may enforce the payment of such assessment, together with
interest, as a debt of the owner of the property and may authorize
the institution of an action at law for the collection thereof. The
Superior Court of New Jersey shall have jurisdiction of any such action.
The Chief of Police shall promulgate such rules, regulations
and procedures not inconsistent with this chapter as may be reasonable
and necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
