The following words, when used in this chapter,
shall be construed to have the following meanings:
MOTOR-PROPELLED VEHICLE
Any vehicle fitted to run on wheels, cleats, skids, skis
or runners which is driven or powered by any type of motor or propelled
by any other means, except vehicles propelled by any other means,
except vehicles propelled solely by muscular or battery power, and
shall include but not be limited to two- , three- or four-wheel all-terrain
vehicles, minibikes, go-carts, trail bikes, sport bikes, trikes, motorized
sleds, snowmobiles and any similar type of sport vehicle. Not included,
but specifically excluded from this definition and the prohibitions
set forth by this chapter, are vehicles used primarily for handicap
purposes and power equipment such as lawnmowers customarily used for
the maintenance of properties, lawns and fields.
PRIVATE PROPERTY
All land in the Township of Mantua, in the County of Gloucester,
other than public property and other than public streets, roads and
highways.
PUBLIC PROPERTY
Lands and interests in all real property owned by or leased
to the Township of Mantua, in the County of Gloucester, or owned by
or leased to any other municipal corporation or political subdivision
of the State of New Jersey, specifically including in said definition
all public streets, roads and highways in the Township.
Any person owning or having under his or her
control a motor-propelled vehicle which is not registered as required
by the provisions of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Act and which is
operated or principally garaged or maintained within the Township
of Mantua must register such motor-propelled vehicle with the Mantua
Township Police Department in accordance with the following procedure:
A. Application for registration shall be made to the
Chief of Police of Mantua Township by the owner of such motor-propelled
vehicle or by the owner's parents or other persons standing in loco
parentis to the owner if the owner is under 18 years of age, on a
form to be furnished by said Chief of Police, which shall set forth
the name and address of the applicant, the age of the applicant, the
make, model and serial number of the motor-propelled vehicle and such
other reasonably required information as said Chief of Police shall
deem necessary for the proper enforcement of this chapter.
B. The application made by an owner 18 years of age or
over shall certify the information therein contained and the application
shall be signed by the applicant.
C. An application made by an owner under 18 years of
age shall contain a statement certifying as to the truth of the information
therein contained signed by the parent or other persons standing in
loco parentis to the applicant.
D. The applicant shall pay a registration fee of $5 to
the Mantua Township Police Department with each application for registration
or for renewal of registration.
E. The Chief of Police or a Township police officer designated
by the Chief shall, upon receipt of said signed application and said
registration fee, furnish the applicant with a motor-propelled vehicle
registration tag which the applicant shall attach to the vehicle so
as to be clearly visible from the rear of the vehicle. Said registration
tags shall be numbered in numerical order so that each tag shall bear
a different number.
F. The Chief of Police or a Township police officer designated
by him shall keep and maintain a record of all applications and note
on each application the number or the tag issued therefor. Said Chief
of Police shall be responsible for the care and custody of all such
application forms and other records incident thereto.
G. The registration shall be effective for a period of
one year from its issuance and must be renewed each year thereafter
in the same manner provided above, except that new registration tags
need not be reissued annually so long as the existing tag is in good
and readable condition upon renewal.
H. In the event that a registration or registration tag
is lost or becomes illegible, a replacement shall be obtained within
10 days of such loss or illegibility from the Police Department. A
replacement fee of $1 will be charged for either a replacement registration
or replacement tag.
I. Registrations and registration tags shall not be transferable
upon transfer of the vehicle. In such event, the new owner of the
vehicle must reregister the vehicle and receive a new registration
tag.
J. The owner of a motor-propelled vehicle which has been
properly registered under Title 39 of the Motor Vehicles and Traffic
Regulations of the New Jersey Statutes shall not be subject to the
New Jersey Statutes shall not be subject to the registration requirement
of this chapter. Such owner shall, however, furnish proof of such
registration on a form which may be established by and obtained from
the Police Department. If at any time such state registration expires
or becomes invalid, the owner of the motor-propelled vehicle shall
comply with the registration provisions of this chapter within 10
days from the date of such expiration or invalidity.
A rebuttable presumption shall exist that the
vehicle is not registered either in accordance with this chapter or
with the state motor vehicle registration requirements if, upon request
by a police officer, the operator of the vehicle cannot produce a
current registration to the vehicle. A further rebuttable presumption
shall exist that the operator of the vehicle is driving without consent
of the owner or person in custody and control of the vehicle if he
cannot produce upon request of the police officer the written consent
to operate the vehicle. A rebuttable presumption shall also exist
that the person is not authorized and given permission to operate
the vehicle on public or private property from the owner or person
in custody and control of such property if, upon request, the operator
cannot produce to the officer the written consent required by this
chapter from such owner or person in custody and control for the date
in question.
The registration of a motor-propelled vehicle
under the provisions of this chapter and issuance of a registration
tag shall in no way be deemed a warranty concerning the safety of
the vehicle in question and the Township of Mantua specifically indicates
that it will assume no responsibility for any injury or damage which
may occur or result from the operation of such vehicle or by reason
of the registration or issuance of a registration tag for such vehicle.
All persons violating any provisions of this
chapter shall be subject to the following penalties:
A. Any person under 18 years of age who violates or fails
to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter shall, for the
first offense, be reprimanded in writing by the Chief of Police of
Mantua Township or such Township police officer as he shall designate.
Such written reprimand shall state the nature of the violation, and
a copy thereof shall be delivered to the parent or person standing
in loco parentis to the violator. For a subsequent offense, the violator
shall be proceeded against by a complaint filed with the Juvenile
and Domestic Relations Court alleging juvenile delinquency and need
of supervision.
B. Any person 18 years of age or older who violates or
fails to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter shall,
upon conviction thereof, be penalized by one or more of the following:
a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $2,000; or by a jail
term up to but not exceeding 90 days; or by a period of community
service up to but not exceeding 90 days, or any combination of the
above. In addition, the sentencing court may revoke the motor-propelled
vehicle registration issued for such vehicle for up to 90 days.
C. Upon a second or subsequent conviction for violation of this chapter or upon conviction of the Juvenile Domestic Relations Court, the sentencing Court may order confiscation of the vehicle in question by the police for a period not to exceed 90 days for each violation. Such confiscation shall be maintained under the impoundment procedures set forth in §
400-4 above.