[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council
of the Township of Byram 10-17-1994 by Ord. No. 16-1994. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 230.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following
definitions shall be applicable:
- HANDICAPPED PERSON
- A person who qualifies under the definition in N.J.S.A. 39:4-204 and who possesses a handicapped person identification card issued by the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles.
- PUBLIC BUILDING
- Any building, structure, facility or complex used by the general public, including but not limited to theaters, concert halls, auditoriums, museums, schools, libraries, recreation facilities, public transportation terminals and stations, passenger vehicles, service stations, shopping centers, hotels and motels, whether privately or publicly owned, properly designated by the Mayor and Council as a result of a request pursuant to N.J.S.A. 39:4-138o, except that this term shall not include private family residences, warehouse storage areas and all buildings conducting hazardous occupancies that involve highly combustible, highly flammable or explosive material.
A.
The owner of any public building with a parking area
which provides parking for 10 or more vehicles which provides parking
spaces adjacent to or which are used in conjunction with the public
buildings shall, within 90 days of notice thereof, provide parking
spaces for handicapped persons in accordance with the guidelines herein
set forth and in a location and manner approved by the Construction
Official.
B.
The location of the physically handicapped spaces
shall be in an area of the parking facility which is most accessible
and proximate to the building or buildings which the facility serves.
The determination of said location shall be made by the Construction
Official in conjunction and consultation with the owner. In shopping
centers and other multi-store facilities, the handicapped spaces shall
be as near to the anchor store as possible and/or such other location
as may be deemed appropriate by the Construction Official and the
owner.
C.
Each space or group of spaces shall be identified
with a clearly visible sign displaying the international symbol of
access, along with the following words: THESE SPACES RESERVED FOR
PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED ONLY. SPECIAL VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED.
The lines designating the area shall be painted with markings approved
by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, and the center of
the space shall bear the international designation for handicapped
parking.
D.
Each space shall be 12 feet wide to allow room for
persons in wheelchairs or on braces or crutches to get in or out of
either side of a vehicle on a level, paved surface suitable for wheeling
and walking.
E.
Where possible, such spaces shall be located so that
persons in wheelchairs or using braces or crutches are not compelled
to wheel or walk behind parked cars or to cross a traffic stream.
F.
Curb ramps or depressed curbs shall be provided to
permit handicapped people access from the parking area to the sidewalk.
G.
Signs shall be posted and maintained and said signs
shall conform with regulations adopted by the Director of Motor Vehicles
and/or be in conformance with N.J.S.A. 39:4-198.
H.
All signing, pavement markings, depressed curbing
and/or ramps shall be maintained in good and proper condition, including
but not limited to the condition of required markings and signs which
should remain distinctly visible at all times. Any owner of premises
required to provide handicapped parking stalls who shall fail to maintain
such stalls in proper condition shall be subject to penalties in accordance
with applicable law. No person shall deface or remove any sign erected
pursuant to this chapter.
It shall be unlawful for any person to park,
stop or stand a motor vehicle in a parking space designated to the
exclusive use of handicapped persons, unless such person is a handicapped
person or is transporting a handicapped person and is utilizing the
handicapped parking space for the benefit of said handicapped person.
Any vehicle parked or standing in a designated handicapped parking
space must display a duly authorized form of identification such as
a handicapped certificate or handicapped license plate. Any person
who shall violate this section shall be subject to a fine not to exceed
$500.
