No person shall engage in, participate in, aid, form or start
any parade or public assembly unless a permit shall have been first
obtained from the Township Clerk. This section shall not apply to
funeral processions or wedding processions; students going to and
from school classes or participating in education activities under
the immediate direction and supervision of the proper school authorities;
or a governmental agency acting within the scope of its functions.
Also excepted from inclusion in this section are spontaneous events
occasioned by news or affairs coming into public knowledge within
three days of such public assembly, provided that the organizer thereof
gives written notice to the Township at least 24 hours prior to such
parade or public assembly.
A person seeking issuance of a parade, public assembly, or block
party permit shall file an application with the office of the Township
Clerk not less than 30 nor more than 45 days before the date on which
it is proposed to conduct said event. The application shall set forth
the following:
A. The name, address and telephone number of the person seeking to conduct
the event.
B. The name and address of the record owner of the subject property
or properties and the nature and interest of the applicant therein;
the proposed dates and hours of such assembly; the expected maximum
number of persons intended to use the property at one time and collectively;
and the purpose of the function, including the nature of activities
to be carried on and the admission fee to be charged, if any.
C. A map showing the size of the property; the zoning district in which
it is located; the streets or highways abutting said property; and
the size and location of any existing building, buildings or structures
or of any proposed building, buildings or structures to be erected
for the purpose of the assembly.
D. A plan or drawing showing the method to be used for the disposal
of sanitary sewage.
E. A plan or drawing showing the layout of any parking area for automobiles
and other vehicles and the means of ingress and egress to such parking
area. Such parking area shall provide one parking space for every
four persons in attendance.
F. The method of disposing of any garbage, trash, rubbish or other refuse
arising therefrom.
G. If a person other than the person applying for the permit will be
engaged in the sale or distribution of food and beverage, the name
and address of such person shall be submitted.
H. A statement specifying whether any private security guards or police
will be engaged and, if so, the number thereof and the duties to be
performed by such persons.
I. A statement specifying the precautions to be utilized for fire protection
and a map specifying the location of fire lanes and water supply for
fire control.
J. A statement specifying the facilities to be available for emergency
of any person who might require immediate medical or nursing attention.
K. The following additional information will be required for a parade
permit:
(1) The route to be traveled, the starting and termination point.
(2) The approximate number of persons who, and vehicles which, will constitute
the parade and the description of the type of vehicles.
(3) A statement as to whether the parade will occupy all or only a portion
of the width of the streets proposed to be traversed.
(4) The location, by streets, of any assembly area for the parade.
(5) The time at which units of the parade will begin to assemble at the
assembly area or areas.
L. Any additional information which the Township Clerk shall find reasonably
necessary to a fair determination as to whether a permit should be
issued.
The fee for a parade, public assembly or block party shall be
$50 for those events in excess of 200 people. The fee for events with
up to 200 people shall be $25. Events with less than 100 persons may
request a fee waiver from the Township Committee.
Immediately upon the filing of an application for a parade or
a public assembly permit, the Township Clerk shall send a notice thereof
to the members of the Township Committee, Chief of Police, Fire Official
and any other person he/she deems appropriate, including with the
notice a copy of the application and the date scheduled for a public
hearing on the permit.
The Township Clerk shall forthwith notify the applicant of his
or her decision whether or not to grant a permit. If the permit is
to be denied, a written resolution setting forth the reasons for said
denial shall be shed to the applicant. If the permit is to be granted,
a permit containing the following information shall be forwarded to
the applicant:
D. Maximum interval of space to be maintained between the units of a
parade.
E. The portions of the street to be traversed that may be occupied by
the parade.
F. The maximum length of the parade in miles or fraction thereof.
G. The number of persons required to monitor the parade or public assembly.
H. The number and type of vehicles, if any.
I. That the permittee advise all participants in the public assembly
or parade, either orally or by written notice, of the terms and conditions
of the permit prior to the commencement of such parade or public assembly.
J. Such other requirements as are found to be reasonably necessary for
the protection of persons or property.
A permittee hereunder shall comply with all permit directions
and conditions and with all applicable laws and ordinances.
The Township Committee, at its discretion, may require the posting
of a bond at the time of the issuance of a permit in an amount sufficient
to cover the costs of any expenses incurred by the Township in regulating
the parade or to provide compensation for any anticipated damage caused
by the parade or public assembly. Said bond shall be posted in cash.
The Chairman or other person heading or leading such activity
shall carry the parade permit upon his person during the conduct of
the parade or public assembly.
The following standards for conduct shall be enforced by the
Chief of Police of Washington Township during the parade or public
assembly itself:
A. Interference. No person shall unreasonably hamper, obstruct, impede
or interfere with any parade or public assembly or with any person
or vehicle participating or used in the parade or public assembly.
B. Driving through parades or public assemblies. No driver of a vehicle
shall drive between the vehicles or persons comprising a parade when
these vehicles or persons are in motion and are conspicuously designated
as a parade or a public assembly.
C. Parking. The Chief of Police shall have the authority when reasonably
necessary to prohibit or restrict the parking of vehicles along a
parade or public assembly route. Signs shall be posted to that effect
and it shall be unlawful for any person to park or leave unattended
any vehicle in violation thereof.
The Township Clerk shall have the authority to revoke a permit
issued hereunder upon the finding by him/her, without public hearing,
that the standards of the permit have been violated by the permittee
or when a public emergency arises such that the police resources required
for that emergency are such that deployment of police services for
the parade or public assembly would have an immediate and adverse
effect upon the welfare and safety of persons or property.
Any person, firm, corporation, association, or legal party whatsoever who shall violate, or authorize or procure a violation, or cause to be violated, any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable as provided under §
62-5 governing disorderly assemblages provisions. If the state requires, limits or expands potential minimum or maximum penalties in contradiction to this chapter, state law shall apply.
The Washington Township Police Department is the enforcement
agent of this chapter.