[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Byram 10-17-1994 by Ord. No. 16-1994. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 230.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall be applicable:
HANDICAPPED PERSON
A person who qualifies under the definition in N.J.S.A. 39:4-204 and who possesses a handicapped person identification card issued by the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles.
PUBLIC BUILDING
Any building, structure, facility or complex used by the general public, including but not limited to theaters, concert halls, auditoriums, museums, schools, libraries, recreation facilities, public transportation terminals and stations, passenger vehicles, service stations, shopping centers, hotels and motels, whether privately or publicly owned, properly designated by the Mayor and Council as a result of a request pursuant to N.J.S.A. 39:4-138o, except that this term shall not include private family residences, warehouse storage areas and all buildings conducting hazardous occupancies that involve highly combustible, highly flammable or explosive material.
A. 
The owner of any public building with a parking area which provides parking for 10 or more vehicles which provides parking spaces adjacent to or which are used in conjunction with the public buildings shall, within 90 days of notice thereof, provide parking spaces for handicapped persons in accordance with the guidelines herein set forth and in a location and manner approved by the Construction Official.
B. 
The location of the physically handicapped spaces shall be in an area of the parking facility which is most accessible and proximate to the building or buildings which the facility serves. The determination of said location shall be made by the Construction Official in conjunction and consultation with the owner. In shopping centers and other multi-store facilities, the handicapped spaces shall be as near to the anchor store as possible and/or such other location as may be deemed appropriate by the Construction Official and the owner.
C. 
Each space or group of spaces shall be identified with a clearly visible sign displaying the international symbol of access, along with the following words: THESE SPACES RESERVED FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED ONLY. SPECIAL VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED. The lines designating the area shall be painted with markings approved by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, and the center of the space shall bear the international designation for handicapped parking.
D. 
Each space shall be 12 feet wide to allow room for persons in wheelchairs or on braces or crutches to get in or out of either side of a vehicle on a level, paved surface suitable for wheeling and walking.
E. 
Where possible, such spaces shall be located so that persons in wheelchairs or using braces or crutches are not compelled to wheel or walk behind parked cars or to cross a traffic stream.
F. 
Curb ramps or depressed curbs shall be provided to permit handicapped people access from the parking area to the sidewalk.
G. 
Signs shall be posted and maintained and said signs shall conform with regulations adopted by the Director of Motor Vehicles and/or be in conformance with N.J.S.A. 39:4-198.
H. 
All signing, pavement markings, depressed curbing and/or ramps shall be maintained in good and proper condition, including but not limited to the condition of required markings and signs which should remain distinctly visible at all times. Any owner of premises required to provide handicapped parking stalls who shall fail to maintain such stalls in proper condition shall be subject to penalties in accordance with applicable law. No person shall deface or remove any sign erected pursuant to this chapter.
It shall be unlawful for any person to park, stop or stand a motor vehicle in a parking space designated to the exclusive use of handicapped persons, unless such person is a handicapped person or is transporting a handicapped person and is utilizing the handicapped parking space for the benefit of said handicapped person. Any vehicle parked or standing in a designated handicapped parking space must display a duly authorized form of identification such as a handicapped certificate or handicapped license plate. Any person who shall violate this section shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $500.