[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Council
of the Village of Ridgewood 3-9-2005 by Ord. No. 2927.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire prevention — See Ch. 149.
Towing — See Ch. 258.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 265.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed
former Ch. 151, Fire Zones, adopted 8-27-1974 by Ord. No. 1541 as
Ch. 12 of the 1974 Code.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide standards
and regulations for no parking or standing in designated fire lanes/zones
to ensure proper access for emergency apparatus to and throughout
the site.
It shall be unlawful for any person to park
or leave standing any vehicle, or place any obstruction, on lands
designated as fire lanes/zones, whether publicly or privately owned,
in the Village of Ridgewood after notice has been posted, as hereinafter
provided.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Areas designated by the Fire Official and properly posted
and marked in accordance with this chapter. The terms "fire zone"
and "fire lane" shall be interchangeable.
The Village of Ridgewood Official or his or her designated
representative, as defined in the New Jersey Uniform Fire Safety Act.[1]
A person who owns, manages, rents, leases or exercises control
over a building, structure, premises or use or a portion thereof.
Any natural person or individual, or any firm, partnership,
association, limited partnership, sole proprietorship, corporation
or any other business entity or any government agency or entity.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et
seq.
This chapter shall be enforced by the Police
Department and the Fire Official of the Village of Ridgewood.
A.
The Fire Official shall (subject to review and written
approval by the Village Manager) designate fire lanes on both private
and public property in the Village of Ridgewood as deemed necessary
for public safety. The Fire Official shall notify, in writing, the
owner of said property, specifically describing the designated fire
lanes as well as the standards of the Village of Ridgewood for posting
and marking of fire lanes in accordance with the provisions of this
chapter.
B.
The marking of fire lanes shall be the responsibility
of and at the expense of the owner and shall be completed within 30
days after receipt of the notification from the Fire Official.
The Police Department shall have the authority
to remove or have removed all obstructions or vehicles as may be deemed
by the Fire Official to violate this chapter at the expense of the
owner of the obstruction or vehicle.
A.
Signs.
(1)
All signs shall be 12 inches by 18 inches in size.
(2)
Light-reflective material shall be used for the sign
background and lettering.
(3)
All signs, whether wall or post-mounted, shall be
placed 50 feet apart, center to center. Whenever the fire lane changes
angle or direction more than 60°, a sign is to be placed at the
point of change, and a sign is required at the beginning and end of
the zone. In all circumstances, a sign shall be visible from another
sign. Additional signs may be required, at the discretion of the Fire
Official.
(4)
The sign shall be placed at a height of seven feet,
as measured from the ground surface to the bottom of the sign at an
angle of 45° facing the direction of the flow of traffic.
(5)
The fire lane sign shall state "NO PARKING OR STANDING
FIRE LANE."
(6)
Signs and striping shall be as identified on Schedule A attached hereto.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Schedule A is located at the end of this chapter.
B.
Striping.
(1)
Stripes shall be minimum of four inches wide.
(2)
All fire lanes shall be striped at a width of four
feet, as specified by the Fire Official.
(3)
The lettering "NO PARKING OR STANDING FIRE ZONE" shall
be placed within the striped outer boundary lines of the fire zone
at a minimum of one-hundred-foot intervals.
(4)
The letters shall be a minimum of 18 inches in height
and shall be placed within the center of the fire zone.
(5)
Paint for all letters and striping shall be yellow
in color.
C.
Maintenance of signs and striping. Property owners
are responsible for the maintenance of all fire lane/zone signs and
striping. Signs and striping will be repaired or repainted, as needed,
at the owner's expense, to effectively designate the fire lane/zone.
[Amended 9-14-2011 by Ord. No. 3304]
Violations and penalties shall be assessed in accordance with § 1-15 of the Ridgewood Village Code, or at the discretion of the Fire Official, in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:70-3, 503.4, Uniform Fire Safety Act. In no event shall the minimum fine for any single violation be less than $75.