[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City of Perth Amboy 5-10-2023 by Ord. No. 2087-2023. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall apply to any person who operates, maintains or owns any private outdoor security camera system, designed to capture footage of an area outside the residence or business.
PRIVATE OUTDOOR VIDEO SECURITY CAMERA OR CAMERA SYSTEMS
A device installed outside a residence or business, which, for security purposes, captures video footage of an area outside the residence or business.
REGISTRANT
A person who owns a residence or business within the City of Perth Amboy who registers a private outdoor video security camera system with the Perth Amboy Police Department under this chapter.
A. 
A person who owns a residence or business within the City of Perth Amboy may register a private outdoor video security camera(s) with the Perth Amboy Police Department on a registry form approved by the Chief of Police. Registration of a private outdoor video security camera with the Perth Amboy Police Department is not required by this chapter and does not constitute a waiver of any rights granted under the Constitutions of the United States or the State of New Jersey.
B. 
The following information shall be included in the private outdoor video camera security registry and obtained on registry forms approved by the Chief of Police:
(1) 
The name of the person who owns the camera(s) or person with access;
(2) 
The most recent contact information, including the street address and telephone number of the person who owns the camera(s) or person with access;
(3) 
The street address of the residence or business where the camera(s) is/are installed;
(4) 
The number of cameras located at the residence or business;
(5) 
The outdoor areas recorded by the camera(s);
(6) 
The means by which the camera's footage is saved or stored, and the duration of time for which the footage is saved or stored; and
(7) 
Any additional information deemed necessary by the Chief of Police as set forth on the registry form.
A. 
Information stored in the Perth Amboy Police Department's private outdoor video security camera registry and obtained on the registry forms pursuant to this chapter shall be available for the exclusive use by law enforcement officials to investigate criminal activity within the vicinity of the camera's location(s). Information stored in the registry or contained on the registry forms shall not be considered a public record pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq., N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5 et al., or common law concerning access to public records. Further, said information shall not be discoverable as a public record by any person, entity, or governmental agency, except upon the issuance of a subpoena by a grand jury or a court order in a criminal matter.
B. 
The Perth Amboy Police Department, as well as any state, county, or municipal law enforcement agency, may contact a person whose information appears in the City's private outdoor video security camera registry established pursuant to this chapter in order to request access to any camera's footage which may assist in an investigation of criminal activity that occurred within the vicinity of camera's location(s). A registrant shall not be required to submit the camera's footage to the Perth Amboy Police Department or any other law enforcement agency, unless otherwise voluntary.
C. 
No fee shall be charged for the registration of a private outdoor video security camera(s) with the Perth Amboy Police Department. A registrant may remove or change information contained in the registry by contacting the Chief of Police in writing.
D. 
The Perth Amboy Police Department shall verify and update registry information with registrants as deemed necessary by the Chief of Police.