[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Bergenfield
5-20-2003 by Ord. No. 03-2303.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also superseded former Ch. 170, Graffiti,
adopted 5-16-1995 by Ord. No. 2178.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Any writing, drawing, marking, symbol, inscription, carving, etching
or the like placed upon any real or personal property, whether private or
public property, by using paint, spray paint, markers, chalk, dyes or any
other substance or method which defaces, obliterates, covers, alters, damages,
mars or destroys public or private property, without the consent or authorization
of the owner of the property, or on any exposed surface on public or private
property; provided, however, it shall not include the occasional and temporary
marking on public streets or sidewalks with chalk for traditional children's
games.
Any felt-tip marker, china markers or similar device or implement
that contains a fluid which is not water soluble and which has a flat or angled
writing surface 1/2 inch or greater.
Any person under the age of 18 years.
Any container or other device which contains paint or other pigmented
substance, which is intended to expel the paint or pigment without the aid
of additional devices or substances, and includes an aerosol spray paint as
it is commonly known.
A marking pen or instrument of which the surface used for writing
or marking purposes is equal to or greater than 1/8 of an inch.
A.Â
No person shall write, draw, paint, print or place with
ink, chalk or other substance, graffiti or other markings, whether obscene
or not and whether intended to offend or not, on the real or personal property
of another, whether such property is publicly or privately owned, unless the
owner of said property shall have, prior to the drawing, writing, printing
or placing of such markings, specifically consented to the same. Nor shall
any person willfully or maliciously damage, deface, or vandalize the property
of another by inscribing or placing graffiti or any other markings on a public
or private street, or on public or private property, whether real or personal.
B.Â
All persons who sell or offer for sale to the general
public, whether at retail or wholesale, any spray paint or other pigmented
substance in an aerosol or similar spray container, or any wide felt-tip marker
as defined above, shall display in a prominent place, easily visible to the
general public, a sign, either where the product is displayed or where it
is paid for, warning that "A conviction in the Borough of Bergenfield for
a violation of the AntiGraffiti Ordinance carries a minimum, mandatory fine
of $250 and a minimum, mandatory ten-day period of imprisonment or community
service for a first offense."
C.Â
It shall be unlawful for any person to possess a spray
paint container, liquid paint in cans, a wide felt-tip marker, indelible marker
or any other pigmented substance in an aerosol or similar spray container
in any public building or upon any public facility or private property with
the intent to use the same to deface said building, facility or property.
A person who possesses a spray paint container, liquid paint in cans, a wide
felt-tip marker, indelible marker, or any other pigmented substance in an
aerosol or similar spray container in any public building, or upon any public
facility or private property, with no legitimate or lawful purpose therefor,
shall be presumed to have possessed same with the intention of using such
container, marker, can or paint to deface said building, facility or property,
the said presumption being rebuttable by the possessor demonstrating a lawful,
legitimate use for the container, marker can or paint.
D.Â
It shall be unlawful for any parent, legal guardian or
other person having custody or in the presence of any minor child under the
age of 18 years to assist, aid, abet, allow, permit or encourage said minor
to violate the provisions of this chapter.
A.Â
Owners of real property within the Borough of Bergenfield
shall be required to remove graffiti from all buildings and structures upon
their property within 10 calendar days following discovery thereof and receipt
of a notice thereof from the Borough Code Enforcement Official served upon
the owner, property manager or occupant of said premises, whichever shall
first count.
B.Â
Upon the failure or refusal of the property owner to remove said graffiti within the time period specified in Subsection A above, the Borough of Bergenfield, through the Borough Code Enforcement Officer or his/her designee, may enter upon said property, remove said graffiti and put the premises in proper condition so as to comply with the requirements of this chapter or any state law applicable hereto, and expend municipal funds for such purpose.
C.Â
The cost of abating such nuisance, removing such graffiti
and putting the premises in proper condition shall be the responsibility of
the owner and, pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 49:48-2.12f, or any
successor statute, the cost thereof shall be charged against the property
and the amount thereof as determined by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Bergenfield shall be a lien against the premises and collectible pursuant
to the provisions of said statute and in accordance with the provisions of
applicable ordinances.
A.Â
For a first offense under this chapter, any person having
been convicted hereunder of same shall be subject to a minimum, mandatory
fine of not less that $250 and a minimum, mandatory period of imprisonment
or a term of community service of not less than 10 days. One day of community
service shall consist of eight hours.
B.Â
For a second or subsequent violation involving the actual
defacing or marring of any private or public property, a person having been
convicted of same shall be subject to a minimum, mandatory fine of not less
than $500 and a minimum mandatory period of imprisonment of not less than
10 days, and shall be ordered to perform community service for a period of
30 days, which shall be of such form and substance as the court shall deem
appropriate under the circumstances.
C.Â
Notwithstanding any of the provisions of the preceding subsections, any person and/or entity found guilty of violating § 170-2B above shall, upon conviction, pay a fine not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 for a first offense and for any subsequent offense shall pay a fine of not less than $250 nor more than $1,500 and shall be subject to imprisonment of not more than 90 days, or both.
D.Â
In addition to any other penalty imposed by the court,
any person convicted for a violation of this chapter may, at the discretion
of the Judge of the Municipal Court, be required to pay to the owner of the
damaged property monetary restitution in the amount of the pecuniary damage
caused by the act of graffiti.
If, at the time of the offense charged, any person apprehended for a
violation of this chapter shall be under the age of 18 years, the Bergen County
Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction of
the trial of such infant or infants, and such infant or infants shall be surrendered
to that Court, and the case, including all papers, reports, and process thereto,
shall be transferred to said Court as provided for by N.J.S.A.
2C:4-11.
