[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Raritan 9-10-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-11. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:48-1.7, the Borough of Raritan has established
a voluntary registry of private outdoor video surveillance cameras
under the direction of the Raritan Borough Police. The purpose is
to aid local law enforcement in investigating criminal activity that
occurred within the vicinity of the camera's location in a timely
efficient and effective manner.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A device installed outside a residence or business, which
for security purposes captures footage of an area outside the residence
or business.
A person who owns a residence or business within the Township
who registers a private outdoor video surveillance camera with the
police pursuant to this chapter.
A.
A person who owns a residence or business within the Borough may
register a private outdoor video surveillance camera(s) with the Borough
of Raritan Police on a registry form approved by the Chief of Police.
Registration of a private outdoor video surveillance camera with the
police is not required by this section and does not constitute a waiver
of any rights granted under the Constitutions of the United State
or the State of New Jersey.
B.
The following information shall be included in the private outdoor
video surveillance camera registry and obtained on registry forms
approved by the Chief of Police: the name of the person who owns the
camera(s); the most recent contact information, including the street
address and telephone number of the person who owns the camera(s);
the street address of the residence or business where the camera(s)
is/are installed; the number of cameras located at the residence or
business; the outdoor areas recorded by the camera(s); the means by
which the camera's footage is saved or stored, and the duration
of time for which the footage is saved or stored; and any additional
information deemed necessary by the Chief of Police as set forth on
the registry form.
A.
Information stored in the Raritan Borough Police private outdoor
video surveillance camera registry and obtained on the registry forms
pursuant to this chapter shall be available for the exclusive use
by law enforcement officials to investigate criminal activity within
the vicinity of the camera's location(s). Information stored
in the registry or contained on the registry forms shall not be considered
a public record pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, et seq., N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5,
et al., or common law record concerning access to public records.
Further, said information shall not be discoverable as a public record
by any person, entity or governmental agency except upon the issuance
of a subpoena by a grand jury or a court order in a criminal matter.
B.
The Raritan Borough Police, as well as any state, county, or municipal
law enforcement agency, may contact a person whose information appears
in the Township's private outdoor video surveillance camera registry
established pursuant to this chapter in order to request access to
any camera's footage which may assist in any investigation of
criminal activity that occurred within the vicinity of camera's
location(s). A registrant shall not be required to submit the camera's
footage to the Raritan Borough Police or any other law enforcement
agency, unless otherwise required by law.
C.
No fee shall be charged for the registration of a private outdoor
video surveillance camera with the Raritan Borough Police. A registrant
may remove or change information contained in the Raritan Borough
registry by contacting the Chief of Police in writing.
D.
The Raritan Borough Police shall verify and update registry information
with registrants as deemed necessary by the Chief of Police.
