(a) Definitions.
(1) "Disorderly house" means any house, room, or premises, where frequent requests for police services for noise, assaults, batteries, drinking of intoxicating beverages, illegal drug usage and/or sale, loitering, gaming, or other misbehavior can be documented.
(2) "Frequent request for police service" means more than three responses to the same address in the preceding twelve-month period.
(b) Prohibition Against Maintenance of Disorderly House. It shall be unlawful for any property owner, lessee, or tenant to maintain, keep, lease or allow a disorderly house, room or other premises in the Township.
(c) Declaration of Public Nuisance. Any such disorderly house, room, or other premises, that shall be disruptive to the peace and well being of the surrounding and greater community, is declared to be a public nuisance by either the Police or Township Code Officer.
(d) Notification. After the third and final incident as defined above, the Chief of Police, or his designee, and/or the Township Code Officer, shall within five days, notify the property owner in writing, by either certified mail, return receipt requested, posting, or personal service, of the Township's intent to initiate charges with the District Court, and further, to allow said property owner and or resident an additional five day period, commencing on the date of service, to notify the Police Chief or Township Code Officer, in writing, of said property resident/owner's desire to meet with the Police Chief or Township Code Officer in an attempt to rectify the condition to be cited. Upon timely receipt of such notification, the Police Chief or Township Code Officer shall meet with the property owner within five days and attempt to reach an agreement. Should the parties not be able to reach an agreement, the Police Chief and/or the Township Code Officer will proceed with the citation before district court.
(e) Violation and Penalties.
(1) Any person, legal entity, property owner, lessee, or tenant, including but not limited to, the keeper of all parties connected with the maintenance of the disorderly house, and all parties patronizing or frequenting same, who are found guilty under the provisions of this chapter, shall be fined not more than six hundred dollars ($600.00) for each offense, and be imprisoned for not more than thirty days.
(2) Upon conviction under the terms of this chapter, the Township may revoke the occupancy permit of any house or premises found to be a disorderly house.
(f) Reimbursement for Police and Administrative Costs. After the third and final incident, any property owner, lessee, or tenant, who maintains, keeps, leases, or allows a disorderly house, shall also be liable for the costs of police and administrative services and shall reimburse the Township for such costs pursuant to the Township's ordinance and resolution requiring reimbursement, and setting the amounts of same. Said property owner, lessee, or tenant shall not only be liable for the third and final incident but shall also be liable for the first and second incidences and the costs associated with all three incidences.
(Ord. 2006-02. Passed 5-15-06.)