HomeMy WebLinkAboutO-2156 - Adds Ch. 6.37, pedestrian interference (6.37)/-Cu-rl..<.-?~
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CITY OF MARYSVILLE
Marysville, Washington
ORDINANCE NO.ZIS:-fo
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MARYSVILLE,WASHINGTON
CREATING A NEW CHAPTER 6.37 MARYSVILLE MUNICIPAL CODE,
MAKING UNLAWFUL INTENTIONAL AGGRESSIVE BEGGING AND
INTENTIONAL OBSTRUCTION OF PEDESTRIAN OR VEHICULAR
TRAFFIC.
The City Council of the City of Marysville make the
following Findings of Fact:
1.On October 27,1997,the Marysville City Council
held a public hearing to consider the adoption of regulations
relating to intentional aggressive begging,pedestrian or
traffic interference,and sitting or lying down on public
sidewalks;and
2.Marysville Police Department has reported not less
than 67 incidents between January and October,1997 relating
to begging,panhandling,unwanted guests,trespass,public
intoxication,urination in public,interference with business
customers,and sitting or lying on public sidewalks in and
around businesses and residences in the City of Marysville,
and related incidents,a listing of such incidents which was
made a part of the record of said public hearing;and
3.At said public hearing,owners or managers of
Marysville businesses testified to numerous incidents
relating to transient persons and panhandlers aggressively
begging,interfering with customers,interfering with
customers'access to such businesses,following customers to
and from their vehicles,and causing a degradation of the
downtown business area due to incidents of intoxication,
shoplifting,unsanitary conditions,and intimidation of
customers or prospective customers,all of which was made a
part of the public hearing record;and
4.Based upon the testimony of the Marysville Police
Department,Marysville business owners,residents and the
entire public record made at said public hearing,the
Marysville City Council finds that there is a legitimate and
documented need for regulations relating to intentional
aggressive begging,pedestrian or traffic interference,and
sitting or lying on public sidewalks,and that such
regulations will serve the public health,safety and welfare
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of the citizens of the City of Marysville;
NOW,THEREFORE,THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
MARYSVILLE,WASHINGTON DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1.A new Chapter 6.37 of the Marysville
Municipal Code is hereby created and enacted reading as
follows:
6.37.010 Pedestrian interference.
A.The following definitions apply in this
chapter:
1."Aggressively beg"means to beg with the
intent to intimidate another person into giving
money or goods.
2."Intimidate"means to engage in conduct
which would make a reasonable person fearful or
feel compelled.
3."Beg"means to ask for money or goods as
a charity,whether by words,bodily gestures,
signs,or other means.
4."Obstruct pedestrian or vehicular
traffic"means to walk,stand,sit,lie,or place
an object in such a manner as to block passage by
another person or a vehicle,or to require another
person or a driver of a vehicle to take evasive
action to avoid physical contact.Acts authorized
as an exercise of one's constitutional right to
picket or to legally protest,and acts authorized
by a permit issued pursuant to Chapters 12.08 or
12.28 of the Marysville Municipal Code,shall not
constitute obstruction of pedestrian or vehicular
traffic.
5."Public place"means an area generally
visible to public view and includes alleys,
bridges,buildings,driveways,parking lots,parks,
plazas,sidewalks and streets open to the general
public,including those that serve food or drink or
provide entertainment,and the doorways and
entrances to buildings or dwellings and the grounds
enclosing them.
B. A person is guilty of pedestrian interference
if,in a public place,he or she intentionally:
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1.Obstructs pedestrian or vehicular
traffic;or
2.Aggressively begs.
6.37.010 Penalty.Pedestrian interference is a
misdemeanor.Any person violating this chapter shall be
punished by a fine not to exceed $500 or by imprisonment
and jail for not more than six months or by both such
fine and imprisonment.
PASSED by the City Council and APPROVED by the Mayor
this 'b,...cJ,day of NOllem~er-,1997.
CITY OF MARYSVILLE
ATT~EST:
By ~~
ciTY CLERK
Approved as to form:
By jj~te.vJ~
7 CiTilfTTORNEY
Date of Publication:/lU9-fer?
Effective Date (5 days after publication):It !J1 h7
MAYOR
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