Chapter 67. Peace and Good Order

Chapter 67 PEACE AND GOOD ORDER

ARTICLE I Loitering

§ 67-1. Definitions.

§ 67-2. Loitering prohibited.

§ 67-3. Prohibited acts.

§ 67-4. Discretion of police officer.

§ 67-5. Violations and penalties.

§ 67-6. Repealer.

§ 67-6.1. Severability.

§ 67-6.2. When effective.

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Gloucester: Article I, 9-4-68 as Ord. No. 367, amended in its entirety On 3-26-76 by Ord. No. 0-76-8; Article II², 8-13-23 as Ord. No. 35. Amendments noted where applicable.]

General References

Police Department - See Ch. 15.

Alcoholic Beverages - See Ch. 26.

Curfew - See Ch. 45.

Parks and Picnic Grounds - See Ch. 66.

Streets and Sidewalks - See Ch. 72.

ARTICLE I Loitering

[Adopted 9-4-68 as Ord. No. 367, amended in its entirety 3-26-76 by Ord. No. 0-76-8]

Be it Ordained by the Township Council of the Township of Gloucester, County of Camden and State of New Jersey, as follows:

§ 67-1. Definitions.

The following words, as used in this ordinance, are defined as follows:

LOITERING - Remaining idle in essentially one (1) location and shall include the concepts of spending time idly, loafing and walking about aimlessly without lawful purpose, and shall also include the colloquial expression "hanging around".

PUBLIC PLACE - Any place to which the public has access and shall include any street, road, avenue, highway, alley and sidewalk. "Public place" shall also include the front, neighborhood or area around any store, shop, restaurant, tavern or other place of business and public grounds, areas and parks, as well as parking lots and other vacant private property not owned by or under the control of the person charged with violating this ordinance or in the case of a minor, not owned or under the control of his parent or guardian.

§ 67-2. Loitering prohibited.

No person shall remain idle, lounge, sleep or loiter in or upon any street or other public place within the Township of Gloucester.

§ 67-3. Prohibited acts.

No person shall loiter in a public place in such manner as to:

A. Create or cause to be created a danger of a breach of the peace.

B. Create or cause to be created any disturbance or annoyance to the comfort and repose of any person.

C. Obstruct the free passage of pedestrians or vehicles.

D. Obstruct, molest or interfere with any person lawfully in any public place, as heretofore defined. This subsection shall include the making of unsolicited remarks of an offensive, disgusting or insulting nature or which are calculated to annoy or disturb the person to whom or in whose hearing they are made.

§ 67-4. Discretion of police officer.

Whenever any police officer shall, in the exercise of reasonable judgement, decide that the presence of any person in any public place is causing or is likely to cause any of the conditions enumerated in §§ 67-2 and 67-3 of this ordinance, he may, if he deems it necessary for the preservation of the public peace and safety, order that person to leave that place. Any person who shall refuse to leave after being ordered to do so by a police officer shall be guilty of a violation of this ordinance.

§ 67-5. Violations and penalties.

Any person who shall violate the provisions of this ordinance shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200.) or by imprisonment not exceeding thirty (30) days, or both, in the discretion of the court.

§ 67-6. Repealer.

All ordinances and provisions thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this ordinance shall and are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.

§ 67-6.1 Severability.

If any Article, section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision or invalidity shall not affect the remaining portions or provisions of this ordinance.

§ 67-6.2. When effective.

This ordinance shall take effect immediately after final passage and publication in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey.

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²Editor's Note: Article II, "Bathing Attire" was repealed upon adoption of the code