This chapter shall be known and be cited as "An Ordinance Establishing Rules and Regulations for the Safety, Protection and Conduct of Persons Using Essex County Parks, Reservations, Recreational Facilities, and other Open Space Property."
A. 
The provisions of this chapter shall be construed as follows:
(1) 
Words and phrases shall be read and construed within their context, and shall, unless inconsistent with the manifest intent of the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Essex, or unless another or different meaning is expressly indicated, be given their generally accepted meaning, according to the approved usage of language. Technical words, and phrases having a special or accepted meaning in the law, shall be construed in accordance with such technical or special and accepted meaning;
(2) 
Any term in the singular shall include the plural;
(3) 
Any term in the masculine shall include the feminine and neuter;
(4) 
Any requirement or prohibition of any act shall, respectively, extend to and include the causing or procuring, directly or indirectly, of such act;
(5) 
No provision hereof shall make unlawful any act performed by any law enforcement officer, emergency personnel or employee of the County of Essex in the line of duty or work as such, or by any person and his agents or employees, in the proper and necessary execution of the terms of any agreement with the County of Essex;
(6) 
Any act otherwise prohibited by this chapter or any other ordinance adopted by the Essex County Board of County Commissioners, provided it is not otherwise prohibited by law, shall be lawful if performed under, by virtue of, and strictly with the provisions of a permit, a County-sanctioned event, or other official form or express authorization or permission to do so and only to the extent authorized thereby; and
(7) 
If any section, sentence, clause, or provision of this chapter, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, shall be declared to be invalid or inoperative by any court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining sections, articles, or provisions, to the extent that they are not invalid or inoperative, shall not be affected nor invalidated thereby and shall be enforced and effectuated.
B. 
This chapter shall be effective on any property or land listed in Essex County's Recreation and Open Space Inventory (ROSI) and further includes, but is not limited to, lands, fields, parks, forests, reservations, recreational areas, historical sites, natural resource areas, wildlife management areas, golf courses, gardens, trails, complexes, facilities, buildings, structures, bodies of water, reservoirs, pathways, walkways, roadways, throughways, driveways, and parking areas within any land or property owned, maintained, or otherwise controlled under the jurisdiction of the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs.
C. 
This chapter is subject to amendment through subsequent provisions as recommended by the Director and approved by the Board of County Commissioners in accordance with the amendment process set forth in N.J.S.A. 40:41A-101.
A. 
The Director of the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs shall be responsible for the overall administration and supervision of operations and recreational activities upon land, property, and facilities within the County's Recreation and Open Space Inventory (ROSI) and County parks and property.
B. 
The rules and regulations set forth herein shall be liberally construed to permit the County's various departments, employees, and authorized agents to discharge their statutory functions.
C. 
The County assumes no liability for damage or injury as a result, directly or indirectly, of natural or man-made conditions encountered by the public while in or on County parks or property.
A. 
The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by the Director, County employees, the Essex County Sheriff's Office and by any other enforcement officer vested with the powers of peace officers as defined by the laws of the State of New Jersey shall retain jurisdiction to enforce any violation of state or local laws and regulations.
B. 
This chapter shall be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction:
A. 
The provisions of this chapter are not intended to and do not relieve any person of the duty to comply with any state or federal governmental laws and regulations governing any activity regulated under this chapter.
B. 
If any provision of this chapter is inconsistent with a provision found in the laws or regulations of the state or federal government, the more restrictive provision shall control, to the extent permitted by law.