[Adopted 9-7-1967 as § 3-21
of the Revised General Ordinances]
The State of New Jersey, under N.J.S.A. 2A:48-1 et seq., imposes the
responsibility upon cities for injuries and damages to persons and property
caused by mob action, and it is deemed necessary and in the public interest
that the City take all appropriate action to protect persons and property
of the citizens of the City. N.J.S.A. 40:48-1(6) grants to the City the power
to preserve the public peace and order and to prevent and quell riots, disturbances
and disorderly assemblages, and the regulations in this article are deemed
necessary.
Whenever the Mayor or, in the event of his/her inability to act, the
President of the City Council determines that an emergency exists as a result
of mob action or other civil disobedience causing danger of injury or damages
to persons or property, (s)he shall have the power to impose by emergency
proclamation any of the following regulations necessary to preserve peace
and order in the City:
A.
Curfew.[1] Impose a curfew on all or any portion of the City requiring all
persons in such designated curfew areas to forthwith remove themselves from
the public streets, alleys, parks or other public areas; provided, however,
that physicians, nurses and ambulance operators performing medical services,
utility personnel maintaining essential public services, fire fighters and
City-authorized or -requested law enforcement officers and personnel may be
exempted from such curfew.
B.
Closure of businesses. Order the closing of any business
establishments anywhere within the City for the period of the emergency, such
businesses to include those selling intoxicating liquors, cereal malt beverages,
gasoline or firearms, but without limitation thereto.
C.
Closure of streets. Designate any public street, thoroughfare
or vehicle parking areas closed to motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
D.
Law enforcement. Call upon regular and auxiliary law
enforcement agencies and organizations within or without the City to assist
in preserving and keeping the peace within the City.
An emergency proclamation shall become effective upon its issuance and
dissemination to the public by appropriate news media.
An emergency proclaimed in accordance with the provisions of this article
shall terminate on the issuance of a proclamation determining and stating
that the emergency no longer exists.
