[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the City
of Ventnor City 8-8-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-12. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The acquisition of information by use of one or more sensing
devices.
An unmanned aircraft that can fly under the control of a
remote pilot or by a geographic positions system ("GPS") guided autopilot
mechanism, and that is equipped with any sensing device or capable
of any data collection.
A device capable of acquiring data from its surroundings.
Sensing devices include, but are not limited to, cameras, microphones,
thermal detectors, chemical detectors, radiation gauges, and wireless
receivers in any frequency (including cellular, Wi-Fi, or other data
frequencies).
An unmanned vehicle or device of any size that is capable
of remote control flight by any means device, is not capable of any
data collection, and that does not possess any sensing devices.
A.Â
Except as otherwise provided in § 107-3, drones and unmanned aircraft are prohibited from being launched from, or landing on, any government or public buildings, property, or parks within the City unless prior written permission has been granted by the Ventnor City Chief of Police for a special event or City-sponsored event.
B.Â
Except as otherwise provided in § 107-3, drones and unmanned aircraft are prohibited from operating or flying in any airspace under 400 feet over any government or public buildings, property, or parks within the City unless prior written permission has been granted by the Ventnor City Chief of Police for a special event or City-sponsored event.
C.Â
Except as otherwise provided in § 107-3, drones and unmanned aircraft are prohibited from operating or flying in any airspace under 400 feet over the Ventnor City Beaches from May 31 through September 1 in any given year unless prior written permission has been granted by the Ventnor City Chief of Police for a special event or City-sponsored event.
A.Â
This chapter shall not prohibit the constitutional use of drones
and unmanned aircraft by any law enforcement agency or emergency services
organization of or servicing the City, the State of New Jersey, or
the United States of America for lawful purposes and in a lawful manner.
B.Â
This chapter shall not prohibit any federal, state, county or municipal
agency from the use of drones and unmanned aircraft for any lawful
and authorized purpose pursuant to applicable regulation.
C.Â
This chapter shall not prohibit the use of unmanned aircraft by any
federal, state, county or municipal agency, including, but not limited
to, law enforcement and emergency services agencies, for lawful purposes
and in a lawful manner.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall,
upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than $2,000.
A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or
on which a new violation occurs or continues. The court, in its discretion,
may order the imposition of up to a maximum of 90 days of community
service in addition to or as a substitute for any fine.