N.J. Stat. tit. 40, ch. 8

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 40:8-1 Acquisition and use of lands for airports; lease to others

The governing body of any county and the governing body of any municipality, or either of them, may acquire by gift, grant, purchase, condemnation or in any other lawful manner real estate or any right or interest therein for airport purposes and so use lands theretofore acquired for other public purposes and being used for airport purposes and erect thereon and maintain buildings for the airport purposes. Upon such acquisition or use, the governing body of any county and the governing body of any municipality, or either of them, may lease the real estate, so acquired, with or without consideration to the state of New Jersey, or any agency thereof, or may lease it to any person for such consideration and for such term of years as may be agreed upon.

N.J. Stat. § 40:8-2 Municipal airports; general powers.

40:8-2. The governing body of any municipality may acquire, establish, construct, own, control, lease, equip, improve, maintain, operate and regulate airports or landing fields for the use of airplanes and other aircraft within or without the limits of such municipality and may use for such purpose or purposes any property, owned or controlled by such municipality, suitable therefor, provided that the provision or performance of goods or services in connection with the operation, management or administration of an airport shall be done pursuant to the "Local Public Contracts Law," P.L.1971, c.198 (C.40A:11-1 et seq.) and any supplements thereto. Amended 1947, c.85; 1999, c.440, s.41.

N.J. Stat. § 40:8-2.1 Operation of airports as public utilities by municipalities.

Any municipality is hereby authorized and empowered to maintain, operate and manage an airport as a public utility, and for that purpose keep the accounts thereof separate and distinct from any other accounts of the municipality. L.1946, c. 12, p. 33, s. 1, eff. Feb. 21, 1946.

N.J. Stat. § 40:8-3 County airports; general powers.

40:8-3. a. The governing body of any county may acquire, by lease or purchase, and establish, construct, own, control, lease, equip, improve, maintain, operate, and regulate airports or landing fields for the use of airplanes and other aircraft within the limits of such counties, and may use for such purpose or purposes any property, owned or controlled by such county, suitable therefor, provided that the provision or performance of goods or services in connection with the operation, management, or administration of an airport shall be done pursuant to the "Local Public Contracts Law," P.L.1971, c.198 (C.40A:11-1 et seq.) and any supplements thereto. b. A county may maintain, operate, and manage an airport or landing field as a public utility of the county and, for that purpose, shall keep the accounts of the airport separate and distinct from any other accounts of the county. Amended 1999, c.440, s.42; amended 2022, c.93, s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 40:8-4 Condemnation; power of.

Any real estate acquired, owned, controlled or occupied by such municipality for the purposes enumerated in section 40:8-2 of this title shall be acquired, owned, controlled and occupied for a public purpose and as a matter of public necessity, and such municipality may acquire property for such purpose or purposes under the power of eminent domain as and for a public necessity.

N.J. Stat. § 40:8-5 Condemnation; law applicable; bonds; law applicable.

40:8-5. Private property needed by any municipality for an airport or landing field shall be acquired by purchase if the municipality is able to agree with the owners on the terms thereof, and otherwise by condemnation, in the manner provided by the law under which the municipality is authorized to acquire real property for public purposes other than street purposes, or, if there be no such law, in the manner provided for and subject to the provisions of the "Eminent Domain Act of 1971," P.L.1971, c.361 (C.20:3-1 et seq.). The purchase price or award for real property acquired for an airport or landing field may be paid for by appropriation of moneys available therefor or wholly or partly from the proceeds of the sale of bonds of the municipality, as the governing body of such municipality shall determine. Such bonds shall be authorized and issued in accordance with the provisions of the "Local Bond Law," (N.J.S.40A:2-1 et seq.). Amended 2022, c.93, s.2.

N.J. Stat. § 40:8-6 Control of airports; regulations; fees.

40:8-6. The governing body of a municipality or county which has established an airport or landing field and acquired, leased or set apart real property for such purpose may construct, improve, equip, maintain and operate the same, or may vest jurisdiction for the construction, improvement, equipment, maintenance and operation thereof, in any suitable officer, board or body of such municipality or county. Provision or performance of goods or services in connection with the operation, management or administration of an airport shall be done pursuant to the "Local Public Contracts Law," P.L.1971, c.198 (C.40A:11-1 et seq.) and any supplements thereto. The expenses of such construction, improvement, equipment, maintenance and operation shall be a municipal or county charge, as the case may be. The governing body of any municipality or county may adopt regulations and establish fees or charges for the use of such airport or landing field, or may authorize an officer, board or body of such municipality or county having jurisdiction to adopt such regulations and establish such fees or charges, subject, however, to the approval of such governing body before they shall take effect. Amended 1999, c.440, s.43.

N.J. Stat. § 40:8-7 Annual expenditures; taxation for

The board or body of any municipality or county having power to appropriate money therein may annually appropriate and cause to be raised by taxation in such municipality or county a sum sufficient to carry out the provisions of sections 40:8-2 to 40:8-6 of this title.

N.J. Stat. § 40:8-8 Airport security officers

The governing body of any county which has established an airport may, by ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, provide for the appointment of such persons as the governing body may designate to act as airport security officers for the facility. L.1979, c. 332, s. 1, eff. Jan. 21, 1980.

N.J. Stat. § 40:8-9 Applications

All applications for the position of airport security officers shall, in the first instance, be made to the chief of police of the county in which the airport is located, except that where the county does not have an organized full-time police department, application shall be made to the Superintendent of State Police. The chief of police or the superintendent, as the case may be, shall investigate and determine the character, competency, integrity and fitness of the person or persons designated in the application. If the application is approved by the chief of police or the superintendent, the approved application shall be returned to the governing body which shall issue a commission to the person appointed, a copy of which shall be filed in the office of the superintendent and with the chief of police of the county and municipality in which such airport is located. L.1979, c. 332, s. 2, eff. Jan. 21, 1980.

N.J. Stat. § 40:8-10 Police training course

Every person so appointed and commissioned shall, within 1 year of the date of his commission, successfully complete a police training course at a school approved and authorized by the Police Training Commission; provided, however, that the Police Training Commission may, in its discretion, except from the requirements of this section any person who demonstrates to the commission's satisfaction that he has successfully completed a police training course conducted by any Federal, State or other public or private agency, the requirements of which are substantially equivalent to the requirements of that at a school approved by the commission. L.1979, c. 332, s. 3, eff. Jan. 21, 1980.

N.J. Stat. § 40:8-11 Powers of airport security officers

Every person so appointed and commissioned shall, while on duty, within the limits of the property under the control of the airport, possess all the powers of policemen and constables in criminal cases and offenses against the law. L.1979, c. 332, s. 4, eff. Jan. 21, 1980.

N.J. Stat. § 40:8-12 Name plate and shields

Each airport security officer, when on duty, except when employed as a detective, shall wear in plain view a name plate and a metallic shield or device with the word "police" and the name or style of the airport for which he is appointed inscribed thereon. L.1979, c. 332, s. 5, eff. Jan. 21, 1980.

N.J. Stat. § 40:8-13 Traffic laws; enforcement

In connection with traffic and parking violations, the airport security officer appointed pursuant to this act shall, while on duty and within the territorial limits of the airport, have the power to enforce the laws regulating traffic and the operation of motor vehicles. Such policemen shall have authority to issue and use traffic tickets and summonses of the type now used by the New Jersey State Police with such changes as are necessitated by reason of this act. Upon the issuance of any traffic or parking ticket or summons by an airport security officer, a copy of said ticket or summons shall be sent to the municipality in which the airport is located. Following the receipt of such a ticket or summons the municipality shall proceed as if said municipality had issued such traffic or parking violations ticket or summons. L.1979, c. 332, s. 6, eff. Jan. 21, 1980.

N.J. Stat. § 40:8-14 Airport security officers; weapons

County airport security officers shall be considered to be law enforcement officers for the purposes of N.J.S. 2C:39-3. L.1979, c. 332, s. 7, eff. Jan. 21, 1980.

N.J. Stat. § 40:8-15 Construction of act

Nothing in this act shall be construed to limit or impair the rights of any State, county or municipal law enforcement officer in the performance of his duties. L.1979, c. 332, s. 9, eff. Jan. 21, 1980.

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