This local law is adopted by the Town Board
of the Town of East Hampton pursuant to the authority granted the
Board under the provisions of the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State
of New York.
[Amended 2-4-2016 by L.L.
No. 4-2016]
For the purpose of this article, the following
terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ACCESS
A means of entry to or exit from a beach.
BEACH
All land lying between a body of fresh- or salt water and
the base of a bluff or dune. In cases where there is no bluff or dune
present, then the "beach" shall be all land lying between such body
of water and the naturally occurring beach grass or the upland vegetation
if no naturally occurring beach grass is present.
BLUFF
A formation of land which is landward of the natural beach
and which rises sharply from its base to a bluff line where the natural
land contours resume a gradual slope.
DUNE
A naturally occurring accumulation of sand in wind-formed
ridges or mounds landward of the beach, often characterized by the
natural growth of beach grass (Ammophila breviligulata). Included
in this definition are deposits of fill placed for the purpose of
dune construction.
ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICE
Any product containing or delivering nicotine or any other
substance intended for human consumption that can be used by a person
in any manner for the purpose of inhaling vapor or aerosol from the
product. The term includes any such device, whether manufactured,
distributed, marketed, or sold as an e-cigarette, e-cigar, e-pipe,
e-hookah, or vape pen, or under any other product name or descriptor.
[Added 5-19-2022 by L.L. No. 15-2022]
LITTER
A.
Garbage, refuse, rubbish, and handbills, as such are defined in Chapter
167, and any and all other waste materials which, if thrown or deposited as herein prohibited, tend to create a danger to public health, safety and welfare or render public places or private property unsightly, including newspapers, household waste, yard waste, and construction and demolition debris.
B.
Illegal/unauthorized signs deemed litter. Any sign erected or
existing in violation of the East Hampton Town Code shall be deemed
"litter" and shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter relating
thereto.
OPERATE
The term "operate" shall have the same meaning as that given
it in the Vehicle and Traffic Law. A person "operates" a vehicle when
he begins to use the mechanism of the vehicle for the purpose of putting
the vehicle in motion even though he does not move it. "Operate" is
markedly broader than "drive" and includes, among other things, sitting
behind the wheel with the keys in the ignition even if the vehicle
is not running.
PROTECTED BIRDS
Birds now or hereafter listed on the New York State and/or
federal threatened or endangered species list.
SMOKING
Inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted or heated
cigar, cigarette, pipe, hookah, or any other lighted or heated tobacco
or plant product intended for inhalation, including marijuana, whether
natural or synthetic, in any manner or in any form. "Smoking" includes
the use of an electronic smoking device which creates an aerosol or
vapor, in any manner or in any form, or the use of any oral smoking
device for the purpose of circumventing the prohibition of smoking
in this article.
[Added 5-19-2022 by L.L. No. 15-2022]
TOWN BEACHES
Beaches owned and/or managed by the East Hampton Town Board.
Included within "town beaches" are all beaches within the boundaries
of the Town of East Hampton, exclusive of those beaches located within
the boundaries of the incorporated Villages of East Hampton and Sag
Harbor and exclusive of Trustee beaches, as hereinafter defined.
TRUSTEE BEACHES
Beaches owned and managed by the Trustees of the Freeholders
and Commonalty of the Town of East Hampton. Included within "Trustee
beaches" are the following:
A.
The ocean beaches from the westerly boundary
of the Town of East Hampton to the westerly boundary of Hither Hills
State Park.
B.
The beaches adjacent to the following bodies
of water: Wainscott Pond, Georgica Pond, Napeague Harbor, Gardiners
Bay, Fresh Pond, Accabonac Creek and Harbor, Fussy's Pond, Hog Creek,
Three Mile Harbor, Duck Creek, Hands Creek, Alewive Brook, Northwest
Harbor, Northwest Creek, Little Northwest Creek and Sag Harbor.
C.
Specifically excluded from the definition of
Trustee beaches are the following beaches: Sammys Beach above mean
high water; Maidstone Park Beach from the westerly boundary of Flagg
Hole Road to the inlet of Three Mile Harbor; the beach adjacent to
Gardiners Bay lying between Alberts Landing Road and Barnes Hole Road;
and all beaches lying east of the westerly boundary of Hither Hills
State Park (Montauk).
UNREASONABLE NOISE
The presence of that amount of acoustic energy which causes temporary or permanent hearing loss in persons exposed; that which is otherwise injurious or tends to be injurious to the public health or welfare, causes a nuisance or interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life and property of others; or that which exceeds the standards or restrictions set forth in Chapter
185, Noise, of the Town Code.
VEHICLE
Any transportation device which is propelled by other than
muscular power.
[Amended 6-12-2007 by L.L. No. 24-2007]
A. Prohibited conduct.
(1) Driving while ability impaired. No person shall operate
a vehicle on the beach while such person's ability to operate such
vehicle is impaired by the consumption of alcohol.
(2) Driving while intoxicated; per se. No person shall
operate a motor vehicle on the beach while such person has .08 of
1% or more by weight of alcohol in his or her blood as shown by chemical
analysis of such person's blood, breath, urine or saliva, made pursuant
to the provisions of § 1194 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
(3) Driving while intoxicated. No person shall operate
a vehicle on the beach while in an intoxicated condition.
(4) Driving while ability impaired by drugs. No person
shall operate a vehicle on the beach while his or her ability to operate
such vehicle is impaired by the use of a drug, as defined in § 1194
of the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
(5) Operating a motor vehicle after having consumed alcohol;
under the age of 21 per se. No person under the age of 21 shall operate
a motor vehicle on the beach after having consumed alcohol as defined
in § 1192 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law. For the purpose
of this section, a person under the age of 21 is deemed to have consumed
alcohol if such person has .02 of 1% or more but not more than .07
of 1% by weight of alcohol in the person's blood, as shown by chemical
analysis of such person's blood, breath, urine or saliva, made pursuant
to the provisions of § 1194 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
A person, even if under the age of 21, will be treated as if of majority
age if the person has more than .07 of 1% by weight of alcohol in
the blood. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a
finding that a person under the age of 21 operated a motor vehicle
on the beach after having consumed alcohol in violation of this section
is not a judgment of conviction for a crime or any other offense.
(6) Driving with a child. No person shall operate a motor vehicle on the beach with any passenger under the age of 17 while the person's ability to operate a motor vehicle is impaired by the consumption of alcohol and/or drugs pursuant to the above Subsection
A(1) through
(4).
B. Chemical tests.
(1) Authorization. Any person who operates a vehicle on the beach shall be deemed to have given consent to a chemical test of one or more of the following: breath, blood, urine or saliva for the purpose of determining the alcohol and/or drug content of the blood, provided that such test is administered by or at the direction of a police officer with respect to a chemical test of breath, urine or saliva or, with respect to a chemical test of blood, at the direction of a police officer or peace officer having reasonable grounds to believe such person to have been operating in violation of any subsection of this article and within two hours after such person has been placed under arrest for any such violation, or having reasonable grounds to believe such person to have been operating in violation of this section and within two hours after the stop of such person for any such violation. For the purposes of this subsection, "reasonable grounds" to believe that a person has been operating a motor vehicle on the beach after having consumed alcohol or drugs in violation of Subsection
A of this article shall be determined by viewing the totality of circumstances surrounding the incident which, when taken together, indicate that the operator was driving in violation of such subdivision. Such circumstances may include any visible or behavioral indication of alcohol or drug consumption by the operator, the existence of an open container containing or having contained an alcoholic beverage in or around the vehicle driven by the operator, or any other evidence surrounding the circumstances of the incident which indicates that the operator has been operating a motor vehicle after having consumed alcohol or drugs.
(2) Right of refusal. Any person arrested for any provision of Subsection
A of this article shall be advised by the arresting officer that he or she may refuse to submit to the chemical test and that as a result of such refusal, his or her permission to operate a vehicle on the beach will be revoked immediately and automatically for a period of two years, regardless of whether such person is convicted of a violation of any provision of Subsection
A above.
(3) Chemical test evidence. Regarding issues of admissibility,
probative value and suppression, chemical test results shall be accorded
the same treatment and effect as provided in § 1195 of the
Vehicle and Traffic Law.
C. Sanctions.
(1) Criminal penalties.
(a) Driving while ability impaired.
[1]
First offense. A violation of Subsection
A(1) above shall be a traffic infraction and shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $300 nor more than $500 or by imprisonment in a penitentiary or county jail for not more than 15 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Upon conviction of such violation, a person's permission to operate a vehicle on the beach is revoked, automatically and without recourse for a period of one year.
[2]
Second offense. Any person who operates a vehicle in violation of Subsection
A(1) after having been convicted of such subsection or of any subdivision of § 1192 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law within the preceding five years shall be punished by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $700, or by imprisonment of not more than 30 days in a penitentiary or county jail or by both such fine and imprisonment. Upon conviction of such violation, a person's permission to operate a vehicle on the beach is revoked, automatically and without recourse for a period of two years.
[3]
Recidivist provision Any person who operates a vehicle in violation of Subsection
A(1) or of any subdivision of § 1192 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law after having been convicted two or more times of said violation or any subdivision of § 1192 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law within the preceding 10 years shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punished by a fine of not less than $750 nor more than $1,500, or by imprisonment of not more than 180 days in a penitentiary or county jail or by both such fine and imprisonment. Upon conviction of such violation, a person's permission to operate a vehicle on the beach is revoked, automatically and without recourse for a period of five years.
(b) Driving while intoxicated or while ability impaired
by drugs or while ability impaired by the combined influence of drugs
or of alcohol and any drug or drugs:
[1]
First offense. A violation of Subsection
A(2),
(3), or
(4) above shall be classified as a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000, or by imprisonment in a penitentiary or county jail for not more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Upon conviction of such violation, a person's permission to operate a vehicle on the beach is hereby revoked, automatically and without recourse, for a period of two years.
[2]
Recidivist provision Any person who operates a vehicle in violation of Subsection
A(2),
(3), or
(4) after having been convicted of any of such subsections or of any subdivision of § 1192 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law within the preceding 10 years shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punished by a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $2,000, or by imprisonment of not more than one year in a penitentiary or county jail, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Upon conviction of such violation, a person's permission to operate a vehicle on the beach is revoked, automatically and without recourse for a period of five years.
(c) Driving with a child. A violation of Subsection
A(6) above shall be classified as a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $2,000, or by imprisonment of not more than one year in a penitentiary or county jail, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Said penalty is pursuant to § 260.10 of the New York State Penal Law, entitled "Endangering the Welfare of a Child" in that the commission of such violation establishes that such person acted in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental or moral welfare of a child less than 17 years old. Upon conviction of such violation, a person's permission to operate a vehicle on the beach is revoked, automatically and without recourse for a period of five years.
(2) Additional penalties. In addition to the criminal penalties set forth herein in Subsection
C(1)(a),
(b), and
(c), in the event that the violator is also the owner of the vehicle in which the offense occurred, the beach vehicle permit issued to the violator for said vehicle shall be surrendered to the court and shall be otherwise subject to removal from the vehicle by a police officer or court officer if not voluntarily surrendered.
Anyone using a beach shall do so with the understanding
that the Trustees and Town Board assume no responsibility for any
injury or damage to any person or property which may be sustained
while using the beach and that the Trustees and Town Board will not
be responsible in any manner for any article that may be stolen from
any structure or automobile or for any automobile or any other article
that may be stolen from a beach.
[Amended 5-1-1998 by L.L. No. 17-1998; 9-18-1998 by L.L. No.
31-1998; 3-17-2006 by L.L. No. 7-2006; 6-6-2013 by L.L. No.
4-2013; 2-4-2016 by L.L. No. 4-2016]
A. Violations of §
91-6 shall be punishable as set forth therein.
B. Any person violating the provisions of §
91-4B and
C shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than $300 nor more than $5,000 or by imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both.
C. A violation of any other provision of this Article
I of this chapter shall be punishable as set forth in the schedule of fines contained in this article, including additional penalties for failing to timely answer any instrument issued for the aforesaid conduct or by imprisonment for up to 15 days, or both, except for those offenses not listed in the fine schedule, which shall be punishable as follows:
(1) For a first offense, by a fine of not less than $100
nor more than $250 or by imprisonment for up to 15 days, or both.
(2) For a second offense within a period of 18 months,
by a fine of not less than $250 nor more than $500 or by imprisonment
for up to 15 days, or both.
(3) For a third offense within a period of 18 months,
by a fine of not less than $400 nor more than $1,000 or by imprisonment
for up to 15 days, or both.
D. Any person or entity found by the Bureau of Administrative Adjudication to have violated the provisions of §
91-4B,
H,
I,
L(1), §
91-5A(4),B(1) to (2), shall likewise be subject to a monetary penalty not to exceed the maximum fine amounts set forth in the instant chapter, for the respective violations referenced therein for a first offense, subsequent offenses and continuing offenses.
[Added 6-2-2022 by L.L. No. 17-2022]
Should any section or provision of this local
law be decided by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional
or invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of this local
law as a whole or any part thereof other than the part so decided
to be unconstitutional or invalid.
The Town Board shall not amend any section of
this local law as the same applies to any Trustee beach without having
first received the written permission of a majority of the Trustees.
In the event that the Trustees shall amend any provision of their
regulations so as to render any section of this local law ineffective,
then the Town Board may repeal such provision as it applies to Trustees
beaches without having first obtained the permission of the Trustees.
In the event that the Trustees should amend their regulations without
having obtained the cooperation and agreement of the Town Board to
amend this local law accordingly, then the Town Board shall not be
responsible for enforcement of the amended regulation.
The Trustees or Town Board reserve the right
to temporarily close or restrict any beach or portion thereof at any
time if deemed appropriate and necessary. Either Board shall advise
the other of its decision to order any closure in a manner deemed
reasonable under the circumstances, but failure to do so shall not
affect the validity of such closure or restriction.
This local law shall take effect upon filing
with the Secretary of State as required by law.
[Added 6-6-2013 by L.L. No. 4-2013; amended 2-4-2016 by L.L. No. 4-2016; 5-19-2022 by L.L. No. 15-2022]
A. Schedule of fines:
Section
|
Description
|
Fine
|
After 15 days
|
After 30 days
|
After 90 days
|
---|
91-4H
|
Obstructing vehicular/ pedestrian access to beach
|
$100
|
$200
|
$300
|
$350
|
91-4I
|
Camping on beach
|
$150
|
$300
|
$450
|
$500
|
91-4L(1)
|
Animals on beach (restricted hours)
|
$100
|
$200
|
$300
|
$350
|
91-4O
|
Noncompliant beach fire
|
$100
|
$200
|
$300
|
$350
|
91-5A(4)
|
No beach driving permit
|
$250
|
$500
|
$750
|
$800
|
91-5B(1) and (2)
|
Seasonal restricted beach/hours
|
$150
|
$300
|
$450
|
$500
|
91-21B(8)
|
Discharge of fireworks
|
$200
|
$400
|
$600
|
$650
|
91-4Q
|
Smoking
|
$100
|
$200
|
$300
|
$350
|