Township of Washington, NJ General Provisions

§ 260-1 Definitions and word usage.

Words and phrases. Whenever any words and phrases are used in this chapter, the meaning respectively ascribed to them in Subtitle 1 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes of the State of New Jersey (N.J.S.A. 39:1-1 et seq.) shall be deemed to apply to such words and phrases used herein. In addition, as used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACES

Handicapped parking spaces shall be those spaces which are identified with a clearly visible sign displaying the international symbol of the handicapped along with the wording "handicapped parking only," with a designation of the penalty for violation placed on the sign or parking space.

HANDICAPPED PERSON

Any person with any physical impairment which causes that person to walk with difficulty or insecurity, or any person with any other injury, impairment or disability, temporary or permanent, such as blindness, crippling diseases or amputation of either or both legs, or parts of either or both legs, or of either or both arms.

HANDICAPPED PERSON SLIP

A form issued by the Township Police Department stating that the holder of such handicapped person slip is a handicapped person within the meaning of this section and which complies with the required format.

HAZARDOUS OCCUPANCY

The occupancy or use of a building or structure or any portion thereof that involves highly combustible, highly flammable or explosive material or which has inherent characteristics that constitute a special fire hazard.

MOTOR VEHICLE

Any vehicle which is self-propelled and designed to travel along the ground, including but not limited to, automobiles, buses, motorbikes, motorcycles, motor scooters, trucks, tractors go-carts, campers and trailers.

MUNICIPALITY

The Township of Washington.

PARKING

The standing or waiting of a vehicle not actually engaged in receiving or discharging passengers or merchandise, unless in obedience to traffic regulations or traffic signs or signals.

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, factories, office buildings, business establishments, passenger vehicle service stations, shopping centers, hotels or motels and public eating places, constructed by any state, county or municipal government agency or instrumentality or private individual, partnership, association or corporation, with the following exceptions: one- to four-family private residences, warehouse storage areas and all buildings classified as hazardous occupancies.

SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES AND CARDS

Those license plates and special vehicle identification cards issued by the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles of the State of New Jersey pursuant to N.J.S.A. 39:4-205 and 39:4-206.

STOPPING OR STANDING

When prohibited, any cessation of forward movement of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic control sign or signal.

Official time standard. Whenever certain hours are named in this chapter, they shall mean either Eastern standard time or Eastern daylight saving time, as may be in current use.

§ 260-2 Authorization for the closing of any street.

The Chief of Police of this municipality, or his or her designee, is hereby authorized to provide by regulation for the closing of any street or portion thereof to motor vehicle traffic on any day or days whenever he or she finds that such closing is necessary for the preservation of the public safety, health or welfare.

Any regulations promulgated by the Chief of Police in accordance with Subsection A above shall provide for the posting of proper warning signs of such closing on any street or portion thereof during the time the same is closed in pursuance thereof.

Any violation of any regulation promulgated thereunder shall be punished as provided in § 260-4 hereof.

Any regulation adopted that mandates the closing of any street for a period greater than 48 consecutive hours shall not become effective unless and until it has been submitted to and approved by the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation.

§ 260-3 Authority to tow vehicles in violation of chapter.

Any vehicle parked in violation of this chapter shall be deemed a nuisance and a menace to the safe and proper regulation of traffic, and any peace officer may provide for the removal of such vehicle. The owner of such vehicle shall bear the reasonable costs of removal and storage which may result from such removal before regaining possession of the vehicle.

§ 260-4 Violations and penalties.

Unless another penalty is expressly provided elsewhere in this chapter or by New Jersey statute, every person convicted of a violation of a provision of this chapter or any supplement thereto shall be liable to a penalty of not more than $50 or imprisonment for term not exceeding 15 days, or both.

In addition, any police officer may provide for the removal of any vehicle parking in violation of any provisions of §§ 260-8, 260-9, 260-10, 260-11, 260-12, 260-13, 260-14, 260-15, 260-16, 260-37 and 260-38. The cost of towing and storing charges shall be borne by the owner of the towed vehicle. Such costs shall be in addition to any fine which may be imposed pursuant to this section.

§ 260-5 Severability.

If any part or parts of this chapter are, for any reason, held to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this chapter.

§ 260-6 Repealer.

All former traffic ordinances of the municipality adopted prior to August 21, 2002, are hereby repealed, and all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with or inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter are hereby repealed, except that this repeal shall not affect or prevent the prosecution or punishment of any person for any act done or committed in violation of any ordinance hereby repealed prior to the taking effect of this chapter.