Any person may file a complaint if there is
any reason to believe a violation of this chapter exists. All such
complaints must be in writing and shall be filed with the Zoning Officer,
who shall properly record such complaint and immediately investigate.
A.
In case any building or structure is erected, constructed,
reconstructed, altered, repaired, converted or maintained, or any
building, structure or land is used, in violation of this chapter
or of any ordinance or regulation made under authority conferred hereby,
the Zoning Officer or other proper official, in addition to other
remedies, may institute any appropriate legal action or proceedings
to prevent such unlawful erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration,
repair, conversion, maintenance or use; to restrain, correct or abate
such violation; to prevent the occupancy of said building, structure
or land; or to prevent any illegal act, conduct, business or use about
such premises.
B.
A violation of any of the terms of this chapter shall
be abated within five days, or within as reasonable time as may be
determined, after written notice has been served, either by mail or
personal service.
[Amended 7-12-2005 by Ord. No. 05-07]
Any person, firm or corporation violating any
provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be subject to penalty
as stated in the Code of the Village of Ridgefield Park.[1]
A.
Any person or entity who violates any provision of
this chapter shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $1,250 or by
imprisonment in a place provided by the municipality for the detention
of prisoners not exceeding 90 days or by a period of community service
not exceeding 90 days. Any person who is convicted of violating this
chapter within one year of the date of a previous conviction of the
same chapter shall be sentenced by the court to an additional fine
as a repeat offender. The additional fine imposed by the court upon
a person for a repeated offense shall not exceed $1,250 and shall
be calculated separately from the fine imposed for violating the chapter.
Each day a provision of this chapter is violated shall constitute
a separate and distinct offense.
B.
In the event a person cannot pay the fine, the court
may provide, in default of the payment of the fine, either imprisonment
in the place provided by the municipality for the detention of prisoners
for a period not exceeding 90 days, or a the performance of community
service for a period not exceeding 90 days. All penalties for a violation
of this chapter shall be in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:49-5, and
the Code of the Village of Ridgefield Park.
C.
In addition to the foregoing penalties, the municipality
may enforce the provisions of this chapter in accordance with the
provisions set forth in N.J.S.A. 40:55D-18.
