Township of North Brunswick, NJ Chapter 138 Business and Commercial Establishments

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee (now Mayor and Council) of the Township of North Brunswick 3-1-1982. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 138-1 Purpose; exception.

A. The purpose of this chapter is the regulation of the opening and closing hours of all business and commercial establishments to which the public is invited in the interest of the protection of the employees, patrons and law enforcement officers. It has been determined that unprotected and understaffed business and commercial enterprises are prey to the criminal element in our society during the late night and early morning hours and that certain security devices must be provided in order to protect the general public who use these establishments.

B. The provisions and requirements of this chapter shall not apply to nor include any business or commercial establishment issued a license or permit for on-the-premises consumption of alcoholic beverages or permitted to carry on a business or commercial activity under the laws of the United States or the State of New Jersey or other municipal ordinances not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter.

§ 138-2 Closing hours, personnel and security requirements.

No business or commercial establishment to which the public is invited shall be open between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Eastern standard time (2300 to 0500 hours) unless:

A. There are two employees on continuous duty in that part of the business or commercial establishment to which the public is invited; and

B. In addition thereto, the business or commercial establishment shall employ a security officer or the premises has in operation a security device approved by the Chief of Police of the Township of North Brunswick which may consist of a silent and/or audible burglar alarm connected to a central security monitoring system designed to activate police response; a closed-circuit television connected to a central security monitoring system designed to activate police response; a closed-circuit television connected to a central security monitoring system designed to activate police response or such other device which can be activated instantaneously to notify law enforcement officers that a crime or disorderly persons activity is in progress.

§ 138-3 Window sign restrictions applicable to convenience stores.

[Added 9-7-1993]

A. The placement of window signs and interior floor displays which obstruct the window area shall be restricted in convenience stores in accordance with this section in order to assure adequate visibility of cash registers from outside the building.

B. Restrictions affecting window visibility shall apply to businesses where the cash register is located so as to be visible from outside the building, and shall apply only from three feet to six feet above the first floor elevation.

C. Within any five-foot measurement of horizontal window space, the business must maintain two consecutive feet of open and unobstructed window area.

D. Restrictions shall not apply to open lettering printed on windows as long as the lettering does not obstruct vision into the store.

§ 138-4 Violations and penalties.

Any person who shall violate a provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not exceeding $500 or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days, or both. A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.