[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township
of Knowlton 5-13-1996 by Ord. No.
96-02. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Swimming and bathing on the municipal beaches is hereby prohibited,
and all persons are prohibited from entering the municipal beaches
and the property of the Township of Knowlton contiguous to said municipal
beaches for the purposes of swimming or bathing. Persons who use the
municipal beaches for the purposes of swimming and bathing shall be
considered trespassers and shall be considered in violation of this
chapter, as well as any other law forbidding trespassing.
[Amended 3-27-1999 by Ord. No. 99-1; 6-14-2021 by Ord. No. 21-03]
A.
The Township of Knowlton hereby declares its beach open to the public
for the purposes of recreational use, fishing and picnicking, subject
to the following regulations, as promulgated in this chapter and specifically
set forth herein:
(1)
Resident parking permits for watercraft launching at Columbia Beach.
(a)
Resident parking permits and watercraft badges for Columbia
Street. Only residents, owners of local campgrounds and public entities
shall be eligible to receive parking permits and badges to use Columbia
Beach for the purposes of watercraft launching. Any and all persons
utilizing the Columbia Beach for this purpose may obtain a current,
valid Township-issued watercraft launch badge and parking permit for
Columbia Street from the Municipal Clerk.
(b)
Upon issuance of a parking permit to a resident for Columbia Street pursuant to § 174-14.1, the Municipal Clerk shall, upon request by such resident, also issue a badge(s) for watercraft launching purposes. Parking permits must be affixed to a resident's dashboard and visible while parked on Columbia Street. Additionally, Township-issued watercraft launch badges must be worn or kept on the resident's person at all times while engaging in watercraft activities at Columbia Beach.
(c)
Pursuant to § 174-14.1, there shall not be a fee for a resident parking permit for Columbia Street. However, residents requiring a badge for the purposes of watercraft launching shall provide a nonrefundable deposit in the amount of $20 and shall fill out an application that includes the following information:
[1]
The resident's name, address and phone number in Knowlton
Township; and
[2]
The license plate number of the vehicle to be used for watercraft
launching; and
[3]
A description of the type of each watercraft to be launched;
and
[4]
A copy of any required licenses or permits needed to operate
each watercraft; and
[5]
A hold harmless agreement in a form to be provided by the Township.
(2)
Permits for users of local campgrounds.
(a)
Owners of licensed campgrounds located in Knowlton Township
may obtain up to three annual Columbia Street parking permits for
each passenger van/vehicle used to transport camp visitors to and
from Columbia Beach. Each permit will require a nonrefundable payment
of $500.
(b)
Each transport vehicle issued a parking permit may also obtain
up to 10 watercraft launch badges per vehicle permit at a cost of
$20 per watercraft launch badge. Watercraft launch badges must be
used solely by camp patrons transported to and from Columbia Beach
for watercraft launching activities subject to the following conditions:
[1]
Any parking permits issued to a campground transport vehicle
must remain affixed to the dashboard of that vehicle and visible at
all times. Watercraft launch badges may be temporarily issued by the
campground owners to its patrons and used by the patron only while
engaging in watercraft activities at Columbia Beach via transport
by a permitted vehicle. Watercraft launch badges will allow the patron
access to the beach for the purpose of watercraft launching and must
be affixed to and/or maintained by the patron at all times during
watercraft use.
[2]
Prior to the issuance of any permit[s] and badges, the campground
shall enter into an agreement (in a form drafted by the Township)
with the Township, which, among other things, may establish certain
maintenance responsibilities, insurance obligations and hold harmless
obligations in favor of the Township for any and all injuries and
damages caused as a result of the use of the watercraft launch by
the campground and its patrons.
[3]
The Township reserves the right to limit the amount of times
per day a transport vehicle may visit Columbia Beach for the purpose
of daily patron watercraft launches.
[4]
Each patron of a campground shall be required by the campground
to abide by all applicable laws and regulations during watercraft
activities and must sign a waiver of liability absolving the Township
of any liability for death, injuries, or property damage incurred
while participating in the commercial operation. Copies of the waiver
forms must be approved by the Township and be submitted to the Township
on a monthly basis or upon request.
(c)
Permits and badges shall be valid for one year starting January
1 of the year in which the permit was purchased. Fees for lost badges
in need of replacement will be $20 per badge.
(3)
Permits for governmental and other public agencies.
B.
Fishing and picnicking. The public shall be permitted to use Township
beaches for fishing and/or picnicking.
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons utilizing the
beaches, whether by permit or without, to commit any of the following
offenses:
A.
There shall be no parking or standing on the boat ramps except in
the course of actual launching or retrieving of watercraft from the
Delaware River. No motor vehicle, except emergency vehicles being
operated in the course of emergency operations or a Knowlton Township
vehicle, shall be permitted past the gates onto the beaches without
either a resident sticker or a campground dashboard identification
sticker.
[Amended 3-27-1999 by Ord. No. 99-1]
B.
No alcoholic beverages whatsoever shall be permitted at any time
upon the municipal beaches of the Township of Knowlton.
C.
All persons utilizing the beach area shall be required to contain
any and all waste material created or brought with them by using containers
provided at the beach areas, if any; or shall carry off any and all
waste material with them to be disposed of properly elsewhere.
D.
The beaches shall be deemed closed at 9:00 p.m. each and every evening
to all persons, with the exception of those persons engaged in the
activity of fishing. No one shall remain upon the beach or beach areas
unless actively engaged in the sport of fishing.
E.
It shall be prohibited for any person or persons to play loud music
or behave in a boisterous or disturbing manner while utilizing said
beach. All such conduct shall be prohibited and shall be subject to
the penalties described within this chapter herein.
F.
Open fires upon the municipal beaches of the Township of Knowlton
are prohibited at all times.
G.
Swimming is strictly prohibited. Persons engaged in swimming on the
municipal beaches shall be deemed trespassers upon said beaches and
shall be subject to the penalties described within this chapter herein.
H.
A person
shall not operate an all-terrain vehicle, dirt bike, trail bike, or
off-road motor vehicle or motorcycle, scooter or moped on or over
the municipal beaches of the Township of Knowlton.
[Added 6-14-2021 by Ord. No. 21-03]
Any person or persons found in or around said beach area as
described within this chapter without being a resident or by possessing
a pass from a licensed campground and displaying the same shall be
deemed and considered trespassers in accordance with the terms and
provisions of this chapter. Any person or persons who trespasses in
or upon or who illegally occupies the above-described municipal beach
area of the Township of Knowlton shall be designated as a trespasser,
in violation of this chapter, and shall be subject to the penalties
and provisions as set forth herein.
Any person or persons who shall violate the provisions of this
chapter or who shall be determined to be a trespasser upon said municipal
beaches of the Township of Knowlton shall, upon conviction, be punished
by a fine of not more than $100 upon the first conviction, plus costs
of court; and shall, upon any subsequent conviction, be subject to
a fine not to exceed $500, plus costs of court, or by imprisonment
for a term of not more than 90 days, or both.
