ORDINANCE 20-98

ORDINANCE REGULATING HUNTING AND THE USE OF FIREARMS AND WEAPONS WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP OF MENDHAM AND AMENDING SECTION 6-11 OF THE REVISED GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MENDHAM, 1970

BE IT ORDAINED by the Township Committee of the Township of Mendham, in the County of Morris, New Jersey, as follows:

Section 1. Section 6-11 of the Revised General Ordinances of the Township of Mendham, 1970, is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:

"6-11 FIREARMS, WEAPONS AND HUNTING.

6-11.1 Definitions. As used in this section 6-11

FIREARM shall mean any gun, shotgun, rifle, pistol, revolver, or other device from which a bullet, shot, ball, slug, pellet, solid projectile or other missile is propelled by means of a cartridge or shell or by the action, explosion or ignition of flammable or explosive substances.

WEAPON shall mean any firearm, air rifle, bow of thirty-five (35) pounds or more pull, sling shot, spring gun or similar device or instrument in the nature of a weapon in which the propelling force is a spring, elastic band, carbon dioxide, compressed or other gas, vapor or compressed air, or which is discharged by compressed air, and ejecting a bullet or missile with sufficient force to injure a person.

6-11.2 Prohibited Activities on Private Property. No person shall enter or go upon any private property within the Township carrying any firearm or weapon, and no person shall use or discharge any firearm or weapon upon or into any private property in the Township, unless such person

1. is the owner, a member of the immediate family (within two degrees of consanguinity) of the owner, or a tenant of the private property, except that for purposes of hunting such person must have a valid license to hunt issued by the State of New Jersey;

1. has complied with the hunting regulations set forth in Section 6-11.4; or

1. carries the written permission of the property owner (indicating the duration of its effectiveness) to use firearms and weapons on the property for target practice, skeet or trap shooting or for purposes of instruction; or

1. is a law enforcement officer identified in N.J.S.A. 2C:39-6 in the performance of his or her duties.

6-11.3 Prohibited Activities Relating to Public Property

1. No person shall discharge any firearm or weapon or cast an arrow upon or across any State, County, Township road or highway, park, playground, school property or other public property within the township unless such person is a law enforcement officer identified in N.J.S.A. 2C:39-6 in the performance of his or her duties.

1. No person shall carry a loaded firearm or weapon or drawn bow within 450 feet of any school property or public playing field.

1. No person shall be permitted to hunt on any public property owned by the Township.

6-11.4 Hunting Regulations. No person shall be permitted to hunt within the Township unless he or she

1. is the owner, a member of the immediate family (within two degrees on consanguinity) of the owner or a tenant of the property hunted and carries a valid license to hunt issued by the State of New Jersey; or

1. carries or displays the following four permits:

1. A written permit issued by the Mendham Township Committee or its duly authorized agent in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by resolution of the Township Committee; and

1. Written permission (indicating the duration of its effectiveness)from the owner of the property on which or into which the firearm or weapon is discharged or the arrow is cast; and

1. A license to hunt issued by the State of New Jersey; and

1. A current decal displayed on the rear bumper of the hunter’s vehicle (if any).

6-11.5 Compliance with State Laws and Regulations Required. No provision of this Section 6-11 shall be interpreted as relieving any person from full compliance with all State laws, rules and regulations relating to firearms, weapons and hunting. The hunting regulations established by this Section 6-11 are in addition to the hunting laws and regulations of the State of New Jersey.

6-11.6 Minimum Penalty. In addition to being subject to the general penalties provided in this Code, any person violating the provisions of this Section 6-11 shall be subject to a fine of not less than one hundred ($100.00) dollars."

Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect after final passage and publication as required by law.

Adopted:

TOWNSHIP OF MENDHAM, IN THE

COUNTY OF MORRIS

By__________________________

Jack J. Schrier, Mayor

Attest:

____________________________