N.J. Stat. tit. 58, ch. 5A

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 58:5A-1 Establishment of constabulary authorized

Any district water supply commission owning, operating, controlling and maintaining any watershed property, reservoir and water system within this State and the governing body of any municipality owning, operating, controlling and maintaining a watershed property exceeding three thousand acres in area and a reservoir and water system may, by resolution, appoint and establish a constabulary for the purpose of preserving order thereon and of protecting, regulating and controlling the same and its pumping stations, dams, pipelines, buildings, machinery and structures located thereon and of enforcing rules and regulations promulgated from time to time by said commission or by the governing body of said municipality for said purpose. L.1952, c. 355, p. 1144, s. 1.

N.J. Stat. § 58:5A-2 Separate police system; civil service

Said constabulary shall be organized into a police system to be known as the " Watershed Police," which shall be separate and distinct from any municipal, county or State police system. The commission or the governing body of such municipality, as the case may be, shall have sole control of the appointment, compensation, terms and duration of employment and management of the said constabulary, for the securing of proper discipline and efficiency among the members thereof; provided, however, that in the case of any such municipality now or hereafter operating under the provisions of Title 11 of the Revised Statutes, Civil Service, all members of said constabulary shall be appointed in accordance with the provisions of said Title 11 of the Revised Statutes. L.1952, c. 355, p. 1144, s. 2.

N.J. Stat. § 58:5A-3 Rules and regulations; penalties

The commission or the governing body of such municipality, as the case may be, may make, alter, amend and repeal rules and regulations for the protection, regulation and control of its watershed properties, reservoirs, pumping stations, dams, pipelines, buildings, machinery and structures, and all other properties and things contained therein, and may prescribe penalties for the violations of such rules and regulations, either by imprisonment in a county jail or in any place provided by a municipality for the detention of prisoners, for any term not exceeding ninety days, or by a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200.00), or both. The proposed rules and regulations shall first be approved by the Department of Law and Public Safety of the State of New Jersey, and in the case of a municipality, by the district water supply commission, if any, of the water supply district within which said watershed properties are situated, as well, and, when so approved, they shall be advertised once a week for two weeks in at least two newspapers circulating in the county or counties in which said rules and regulations are to apply and shall not be adopted until a public hearing shall have first been held. Such rules and regulations shall not take effect until ten days after their adoption and after their publication once a week for two weeks in at least two newspapers circulating in the county or counties in which said rules and regulations are to apply. L.1952, c. 355, p. 1145, s. 3.

N.J. Stat. § 58:5A-4 Service of process; arrest of persons violating rules and regulations

The members and officers of the said constabulary may make service of summons or any other legal process, and may arrest on view and without warrant and conduct before the nearest magistrate of the municipality in which the arrest is made, or of a neighboring municipality, or any judge having jurisdiction to impose fines and penalties generally in said municipalities, any person found violating the rules and regulations so enacted and promulgated and in addition they shall have all the powers conferred by law on police officers or constables for the enforcement of the laws of this State in the municipalities in which the watershed properties, reservoirs, pumping stations, dams, pipelines, buildings, machinery and structures are located and the apprehension of violators thereof. L.1952, c. 355, p. 1145, s. 4.

N.J. Stat. § 58:5A-5 Temporary assignment to enforce anti-pollution laws

Any member or officer of any constabulary created hereunder may, at the option of the commission or the governing body of such municipality so creating the same, be temporarily assigned to or deputized by the State Commissioner of Health or any local board of health for the purpose of enforcing any anti-pollution law and preventing pollution of waters upon the watersheds and feeder streams supplying the reservoir and water system of such commission or municipality, as well as for the purpose of procuring evidence in the prosecution of any such violators. L.1952, c. 355, p. 1146, s. 5.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026