[Adopted 12-27-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-021]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
GUARDIAN
A person who has qualified as a guardian of the underage person pursuant to a testamentary or court appointment.
RELATIVE
The underage person's grandparent, aunt or uncle, sibling, or any other person related by blood or affinity.
It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of 21 years to purchase, sell, consume or have in his or her possession any alcoholic beverage in or upon any public or private street, highway, park, footway or other public or quasi-public place or in a private residence or upon any private property within the Township of West Milford, except as hereinafter provided or as may be permitted by state statute.
A. 
Nothing contained in this article is intended, nor shall it be construed, as prohibiting an underage person from consuming or possessing an alcoholic beverage in connection with a religious observance, ceremony or rite, or consuming or possessing an alcoholic beverage in the presence of and with the permission of a parent, guardian or relative who has attained the legal age to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages; provided that, if the underage person is found to possess or consume an alcoholic beverage in the presence of and with the permission of a relative other than a parent or guardian, the police shall notify the parent or legal guardian, by certified mail, of the incident together with the name of the relative who gave permission for the possession or consumption of the alcoholic beverage by the underage person. The notification shall include a request that the parent or guardian acknowledge and return a copy of the letter to the Police Department within 15 days of receipt.
B. 
This article shall not prohibit the possession of alcoholic beverages by any underage person while actually engaged in the performance of employment by a person who was licensed under Title 33 of the Revised Statutes or while actively engaged in the preparation of food while enrolled in a culinary arts or hotel management program at a county vocational school or post-secondary educational institution; however, this article shall not be construed to preclude the imposition of a penalty under this section, N.J.S.A. 33:1-81 or any other section of law against a person who is convicted of unlawful alcoholic beverage activity on or at premises licensed for the sale of alcoholic beverages.
A. 
Any person found guilty of violating the terms of this article shall be subject to a fine of $250 for a first offense and a fine of $350 for any subsequent offense. In addition, the court may, upon a finding of guilty, in addition to the fine authorized for this offense, suspend or postpone for six months the driving privileges of the defendant. Upon the conviction of any person and the suspension or postponement of that person's driver's license, the court shall forward a report to the Division of Motor Vehicles stating the first and last day of the suspension or postponement period imposed by the court pursuant to this section. If a person at the time of the imposition of a sentence is less than 17 years of age, the period of license postponement, including a suspension or postponement of the privilege of operating a motorized bicycle, shall commence on the day the sentence is imposed and shall run for a period of six months after the person reaches the age of 17 years. If the defendant at the time of the imposition of the sentence has a valid driver's license issued by this state, the court shall immediately collect the license and forward it to the Division of Motor Vehicles along with the report. If for any reason the license cannot be collected, the court shall include in the report the complete name, address, date of birth, eye color and sex of the person, as well as the first and last date of the license suspension period imposed by the court.
B. 
The court shall inform the person orally and in writing that if the person is convicted of operating a motor vehicle during the period of license suspension or postponement, the person shall be subject to the penalties set forth in N.J.S.A. 39:3-40. The defendant shall be required to acknowledge receipt of the written notice in writing. Failure to receive a written notice or failure to acknowledge in writing the receipt of the written notice shall not be a defense to a subsequent charge of a violation of N.J.S.A. 39:3-40.
C. 
If the person convicted under this article is not a New Jersey resident, the court shall suspend or postpone, as appropriate, the nonresident driving privilege of the person based on the age of the person and submit to the Division the required report. The court shall not collect the license of a nonresident convicted under this article. Upon receipt of a report by the court, the Division shall notify the appropriate officials in the licensing jurisdiction of the suspension or postponement.