A. 
The operation and parking of motor vehicles in close proximity to buildings devoted to public uses, including shopping centers, restaurants, schools, public buildings and retail establishments and churches, and residential attached or cluster structures constitute a danger to public health, safety and welfare in that the approach, operation and departure of fire equipment and other emergency vehicles are impeded by such operation and parking of motor vehicles.
B. 
The fire zones to be established pursuant to this article shall be designated on such properties as are necessary to ensure fire equipment and other emergency vehicles unobstructed means of approach, operation and departure in the event of fire or other emergency.
The Fire Department of the Borough of North Caldwell is hereby authorized, subject to approval by resolution adopted by the Mayor and Council, to establish fire zones on properties in the borough devoted to public uses, including but not limited to shopping centers, restaurants, retail and wholesale establishments, schools and public buildings and churches, and residential attached or cluster structures where the operation and parking of motor vehicles in close proximity to buildings located on such properties would prevent adequate ingress, egress and operation of fire equipment and other emergency vehicles, and is further authorized to promulgate regulations limiting, restricting or prohibiting the operation or parking of motor vehicles within the fire zones.
The number, location, width, length and marking of fire zones shall be based upon the size, type or construction and location of the building or buildings involved; the use to which the property, building or buildings is put; the number of motor vehicles operated or parked upon the property; the number of persons using and occupying the property, building or buildings; the existing means of ingress and egress to and from the property, building or buildings; the total area of the property, including the size of the parking lot; and all other relevant factors.
A. 
Except as hereinafter provided with respect to fire zones in proximity to residential attached or cluster structures, all fire zones located within the Borough of North Caldwell shall be striped and signs posted in the following manner:
(1) 
Signs:
(a) 
All signs shall be 12 inches by 18 inches in size.
(b) 
Light reflective material shall be used for the sign background and lettering.
(c) 
All signs, whether wall- or post-mounted, shall be placed 50 feet center to center, starting from a point 25 feet from the starting point of the zone or a corner. Where vision may be obstructed, additional signs must be placed at the discretion of the Fire Department.
(d) 
The sign shall be placed at a height of between four and five feet as measured from the ground surface to the center of the sign.
(e) 
The fire zone sign shall state NO PARKING FIRE ZONE.
(2) 
Striping:
(a) 
All fire zones shall be striped at a width of three to eight feet as specified by the Fire Department.
(b) 
The legend "No Parking Fire Lane/Zone" shall be placed within the striped area of the Fire Lane/Zone at a minimum of 100 foot intervals or as designated by the Fire Official. The required lettering shall be 18 inches high and reflective yellow in color.
B. 
Fire zones established in proximity to residential attached or cluster structures shall be marked with such signs and/or stripes as shall be aesthetically appropriate to the residential use. Signage and/or striping in residential zones shall be subject to approval by resolution adopted by the Mayor and Council in accordance with § 44-10 hereof.
[Ord. No. 14-08]
A. 
In any parking facility or multifamily, business, industrial, education or governmental area in which markings have been painted or placed for the purpose of delineating parking spaces, it shall be unlawful to park any vehicle outside the delineated lines or markings. No vehicle shall impede or hamper the response of any emergency vehicle by parking in areas not designated for parking.
B. 
It shall be unlawful to obscure from view, damage, deface, obstruct or restrict the access to any fire hydrant, drafting hydrant and/or Fire Department Connection (FDC) for the pressurization of fire suppression systems, and blocking any exit door and/or any exit discharge that are located on public or private streets, access lanes or on private property.
C. 
Any member of the Fire Prevention Bureau witnessing any violation of Subsection A and B shall issue a notice of violation and order to pay penalty in the amount determined by the Fire Official. Said penalties will be forwarded to the Finance Department and applied to the Fines and Penalty Account for the Uniform Fire Code. In addition, this section may also be enforced as any other ordinance violation by the North Caldwell Police Department.
D. 
If, upon the expiration of the time mentioned in a notice of violation, obstructions or encroachments are not removed, the Fire Official shall proceed to remove the same. Costs incurred in the performance of necessary work shall be paid from the Municipal Treasury on certificate of the Fire Official and legal authority of the municipality shall institute appropriate action for recovery of such costs.
The borough may assess levy, and collect penalties to ensure compliance with the Uniform Fire Code. No penalty shall be imposed except upon issuance of a written order requiring abatement and the allowance of a reasonable specified period in which to comply, unless clear notice of the violation otherwise exists.
[Ord. No. 14-08]
A. 
Any person who shall violate any provisions of this article shall be subject to a fine of not more than $500 or to imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both. A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.
B. 
If a penalty order has not been satisfied by the thirtieth (30th) day after its issuance, the Commissioner or the borough may institute a civil penalty action by a summary proceeding under the Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999 (N.J.S.A. 2A:58-10 et. seq.) in the Superior Court or Municipal Court.
(1) 
A person who fails to pay immediately a money judgment rendered against him may be sentenced to imprisonment by the court for a period not exceeding six months, unless the judgment is sooner paid.
(2) 
All monies that are recovered as a result of the assessment of penalties shall be paid in the designated trust account and shall be appropriated to support the Bureau of Fire Prevention.
Borough police, firemen, code enforcement officials or other officers acting within their official capacity shall have the power to order removed any vehicle violating this article, and the owner of the vehicle shall be responsible for any towing fees incurred, as well as penalties for violation of this article.