[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township
of Washington 11-5-2013 by Ord.
No. 2013-03.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Prohibited conduct — See Ch. 176.
Curfew — See Ch. 188.
Graffiti — See Ch. 244.
Signs — See Ch. 383.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance superseded former Ch. 322,
Parades and Similar Assemblies, adopted 8-6-1992 by Ord. No. 1992-6.
The following meanings shall apply to words and phrases as used
in this chapter:
Any march, ceremony, show, exhibition, assembly, pageant,
automobile road rally, motorcycle race or enduro, bicycle race, rally,
tour, or similar function, procession, foot race, marathon or the
like, of any kind or any similar display, or horse rides or events,
in or upon any street, park or other public place under Township jurisdiction.
A permit as required by this chapter.
No person shall engage in, organize, participate in, aid, form
or start any parade or event unless a parade/event permit shall have
been obtained from the Township Committee. This chapter shall not
apply to:
A.
Funeral processions.
B.
Students going to and from school classes or participating in educational
activities under the immediate direction and supervision of the proper
school authorities.
C.
Processions sponsored, sanctioned or approved by a governmental agency,
including but not limited to the Township Committee, School Board,
Fire Company or Ambulance Squad, acting within the scope of its functions.
D.
Wedding processions.
E.
Processions arising out of labor disputes.
F.
Processions sponsored by houses of religious worship.
A.
A person seeking issuance of a parade/event permit shall file an
application with the Township Clerk not less than 45 days before the
date on which the parade/event is scheduled to be held. The application
shall set forth the following:
(1)
The name, address and telephone number of the person seeking to conduct
the parade.
(2)
If the parade/event is proposed to be conducted for, on behalf of
or by an organization, the name, address and telephone number of the
headquarters of the organization and of the authorized and responsible
head(s) of the organization.
(3)
The name, address and telephone number of the person who will be
the parade/event chairperson and who will be responsible for its conduct,
together with the address and telephone number where said person can
be contacted on the parade date.
(4)
The date when the parade/event is to be conducted.
(5)
The route to be traveled; the starting point and the termination
point. A map outlining said route shall be submitted with the application.
(6)
The approximate number of persons, animals and vehicles which will
constitute the parade/event; the type of animals and a description
of the vehicles.
(7)
The hours when the parade/event will start and terminate.
(8)
A statement as to whether the parade will occupy all or only a portion
of the width of the streets proposed to be traversed.
(9)
The location, by street, of any assembly areas for the parade.
(10)
The time at which units of the parade will begin to assemble
at the assembly area or areas.
(11)
The interval of space to be maintained between units of the
parade.
(12)
If the parade is designed to be held by, on behalf of or for
any person other than the applicant, the applicant for the permit
shall file with the Township Clerk a communication, in writing, from
the person proposing to hold the parade authorizing the applicant
to apply for the permit on his/her behalf.
(13)
A description of any and all provisions for any necessary medical,
ambulance or rescue services, police services and/or traffic control.
(14)
Any additional information which the Township Committee shall
find reasonably necessary for a fair determination as to whether a
permit should be issued.
B.
The applicant shall file copies of the application a for parade/event
permit with the Township Emergency Squad simultaneously with filing
said application with the Township Clerk.
C.
In the event the parade/event being applied for will traverse state
or federal lands, the applicant shall file with the Township Clerk
a copy of the application used by the Division of Parks and Forestry,
State Park Service, Pinelands Commission, New Jersey State Police
or other agency having jurisdiction over such state and/or federal
lands, simultaneous with the filing of said application. Any revision
or correction to any of the above-mentioned applications shall also
be filed with the Township Clerk.
Each application for parade/event permit shall be accompanied
by an application fee of $500. The Township Committee may in its discretion
reduce or waive said fee. The Township may after a parade/event inspection,
return up to $250 of the application fee to the applicant in the event
there are no issues regarding trash, cleanup or other violations of
Township rules.
The Township Committee shall issue a permit, as provided for
hereunder, when, from a consideration of the application and from
other information as may otherwise be obtained, it finds that:
A.
The conduct of the parade/event will not substantially interrupt
the safe and orderly movement of traffic contiguous to its route.
B.
The conduct of the parade/event will not require the diversion of
so great a number of police officers servicing the Township to properly
police the line of movement and the areas contiguous thereto as to
prevent normal police protection of the Township.
C.
The conduct of the parade/event will not require the diversion of
so great a number of ambulances as to prevent normal ambulance service
to portions of the Township, other than that to be occupied by the
proposed line of march and areas contiguous thereto.
D.
The concentration of persons, animals and vehicles at assembly points
of the parade will not duly interfere with proper fire and police
protection of, or ambulance service to, areas contiguous to the assembly
areas.
E.
The conduct of the parade/event will not interfere with the movement
of firefighting equipment en route to a fire.
F.
The parade/event is scheduled to move from its point of origin to
its point of termination expeditiously and without unreasonable delays
en route.
G.
The parade/event is not to be held for the sole purpose of advertising
any product, goods or event and is not designed to be held purely
for private profit.
The Township Committee shall act upon the application for a
parade permit at the first public meeting at which action may be taken
after the filing of a completed application. The Township Committee
may in its discretion waive any of the requirements of this chapter
upon good cause being shown. The Township Committee may further impose
such other conditions on the permit that it deems necessary, reasonable
and appropriate to protect the health, safety and general welfare
of the citizens and the participants.
Any person aggrieved shall have the right to appeal the denial
of a parade/event permit to the Mayor. The appeal shall be taken within
five days after notice. The Mayor shall act upon the appeal within
two days after its receipt.
Immediately upon the issuance of a parade/event permit, the
Township Clerk shall send a copy thereof to the Mayor, Township Attorney,
Fire Chief, Ambulance Companies and Code Enforcement Officer.
Each parade permit shall state the following information:
A.
Starting time.
B.
Minimum speed.
C.
Maximum speed.
D.
Maximum interval of space to be maintained between the units of the
parade, if applicable.
E.
The portions of the streets to be traversed that may be occupied
by the parade.
F.
The maximum length of the parade in miles or fractions thereof.
G.
Any other information which the Township Committee shall find necessary
to the enforcement of this chapter.
The parade/event chairperson or other person heading or leading
such activity shall carry the parade/event permit upon his/her person
during the conduct of the parade.
A.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be subject
to a penalty for each offense of not more than $500 or be imprisoned
for a term not exceeding 90 days, or both, for each offense.
B.
Other remedies. No provision of this chapter shall be construed to
impair any common law or statutory cause of action or legal remedy
therefrom of any person for injury or damage arising from any violation
of this chapter or from other law.
