Fire Zones

    ORDINANCE RE:  FIRE ZONES

 

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE LEGAL VOTERS OF THE TOWN OF STONINGTON I LAWFUL TOWN MEETING DULY ASSEMBLED, THAT, the following Ordinance be established by the Town:   

 

AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING ESTABLISHMENT AND
ENFORCEMENT OF FIRE ZONES IN THE TOWN OF
STONINGTON


 

PURPOSE:  An ordinance enacted by the citizens of the Town of Stonington to establish a procedure of identifying needed fire zones within the Town of Stonington and a procedure to enforce such ordinance.  A Fire Zone ordinance seeks to provide and establish clear areas to assist and expedite emergency response within a premise and allow for safe and unobstructed evacuation as allowed under Connecticut General Statutes Section 29-293.

 

PROPERTY OWNER (S) RESPONSIBILITIES

 

SECTION 1:  A fire zone is a designed, unobstructed passageway sufficient in size to permit free passage of fire apparatus and other emergency equipment from a public highway to all necessary areas or portions of any private or public property as herein set forth.

 

SECTION 2:  Whenever the fire chief having jurisdiction, within any district in the Town of Stonington, determines that the reasonable safety of persons occupying or using any public or private premises within such district having a capacity of at least fifteen (15) persons requires the establishment of a fire zone, the fire chief or designee of said district shall establish such fire zone.  Such fire zone shall be established by written order designating and describing said zone and the requirements to adequately sign, mark, or post the property to delineate said fire zone.  The fire chief or designee shall cause a copy of such order to be delivered by certified mail to the owner, or owners, or tenants thereof, of any private property on which such fire zone is established.

 

SECTION 3:   Whenever the fire chief or designee of any district establishes a fire zone, they shall file one copy of their order with the clerk of the town and one copy with the Police Commission of the Town of Stonington.  Any person aggrieved by such order may file with the clerk of the town within fifteen (15) days of the date of the mailing of such order, written notice of appeal, setting forth therein reasons for the appeal.  This appeal will then be heard before the next regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Police Commission.  After hearing, the Police Commission shall affirm, modify or rescind such order within sixty (60) days of the date of order.

 

SECTION 4:  Upon establishment of a fire zone and within ninety (90) days, the owner, owners, or tenants thereof, shall cause to be erected or installed; adequate signs, markings or other devices to delineate said fire zone.  Said signs, markings or devices shall be within specifications established by the fire chief or designee of each district.  Said owners(s) shall have the responsibility to promptly replace and/or install or repair such signs, markings or other devices necessitated by theft, vandalism, accident, weather or other unforeseen circumstances or need.

 

SECTION 5:  Whenever the fire chief or designee of a district identifies a need for replacement, repair, maintenance or installation of signs, markings or other devices to delineate a fire zone which has already been established under sections 2, 3 and 4 of said ordinance, it shall notify the owner(s) of said property by written order by certified mail describing such repair, replacement and/or improvement to be made.  In the event of an owner’s failure to respond to such order within fifteen (15) days of such notice and make the necessary repair, replacement or installation, the owner(s) shall be subject to prosecution for “failure to maintain a proper fire zone” in violation of said ordinance and be subject to a fine not to exceed $100 (one hundred dollars).

 

MOTOR VEHICLE VIOLATIONS    

 

SECTION 6:  Definitions-(a.)  Vehicle:  Any device suitable for the conveyance, drawing or other transportation of person or property, whether operated on wheels, runners cushion of air between it and the surface or by an other means, except those propelled or drawn by human power or those used exclusively on tracks; (b.)  Parked vehicle:  Any vehicle in a stationary position.

 

SECTION 7:  Liability of Vehicle Owner:  Whenever there occurs a violation of this ordinance, proof of registration number of any motor vehicle involved shall be prima facie evidence, in any criminal action or in any action based on an infraction or Town parking ticket, that the owner was the operator of said vehicle.  Any tow resulting from violation of this ordinance shall be at the expense and risk of said owner.

 

SECTION 8:  Any police officer or designated representative of the police department may attach to any vehicle parked in a posted fire zone and in violation of this ordinance, a notice to the owner or operator that such vehicle has been parked in violation of said ordinance.  A violation of this section of the ordinance shall constitute an offense for “parking in a fire zone” and shall be fined twenty-five ($25.00) dollars.  Any Town Parking Ticket issued under this ordinance will indicate the nature of the violation and instruct such owner or operator to pay the penalty for such violation; by appearing in person at the Stonington Police Department or by mailing such notice, with the amount of  the penalty to the Stonington Department of Police Services within 72 hours of the offense.

 

SECTION 9:  The Chief of Police or designee is authorized and empowered to accept payment of the penalties provided in this ordinance from any person found in violation of this ordinance and issued a Town Parking Ticket.  The Chief of Police or designee is empowered to take such action as is required to cause such payments and shall keep a record of all such payments paid to the Stonington Police Department.  All funds collected under this ordinance will be forwarded to the Finance Department of the Town for deposit into the General Fund.

 

SECTION 10:  This ordinance shall become effective fifteen (15) days after publication in a newspaper having circulation in the Town of Stonington.      

 

Adopted April 24, 2000
Effective May 12, 2000