Chapter 9.68
UNRULY GATHERINGS
Sections:
9.68.010 Purpose of provisions.
9.68.020 Procedures for enforcement.
9.68.040 Written notice to responsible persons.
9.68.010 Purpose of provisions.
The city council finds that parties or gatherings within the city may, on occasion, disturb the public peace, safety and welfare, thereby requiring law enforcement services over and above those normally provided. It is in the best interests of the public safety, welfare and convenience of the city, as well as in fairness to its citizens, that the city require those persons utilizing or requiring law enforcement services, beyond those provided the public at large, to defray the city’s expense for providing the same. (Ord. 840 § 1, 2001: Ord. 718 § 1 (part), 1993)
9.68.020 Procedures for enforcement.
When a party, gathering or other assemblage of persons occurs and is determined by a sheriff’s deputy at the scene to constitute a violation of the California Penal Code or is otherwise a threat to the public peace, health, safety or welfare due to the magnitude of the crowd, noise or disturbance or unruly behavior generated by the gathering, excessive traffic, or destruction of property, then the deputy shall take such actions and give such direction as is necessary to abate the violation or condition and shall advise the responsible party orally and in writing that if additional law enforcement personnel are required to abate the condition, the responsible party and/or property owner shall be held responsible for the cost of providing such services pursuant to this chapter. Direction shall be given to the person responsible for the event or on whose property it is located. If the condition is not voluntarily abated or if it nevertheless becomes necessary to call in additional sheriff’s personnel to terminate the gathering, quell any disturbance, direct traffic, cite illegally parked vehicles or otherwise respond to the situation, then the cost of such additional law enforcement services beyond the initial response shall be reimbursed to the city as provided in Section 9.68.030. (Ord. 840 § 2, 2001: Ord. 718 § 1 (part), 1993)
9.68.030 Cost reimbursement.
(a) The person or persons responsible for a gathering described in Section 9.68.020 or on whose property the gathering is held, or if such person is a minor then the parents or legal guardians of the minor, shall be jointly and severally liable for the following costs attributable to the event:
(1) The actual cost to the city of law enforcement services beyond the initial response by a sheriff’s deputy necessary to abate the conditions described in Section 9.68.020;
(2) Damage to public property resulting from such law enforcement response.
(b) The sheriff’s department shall accurately compute the costs of providing such services in accordance with the schedule of rates and charges for personnel and equipment contained in the law enforcement services agreement with the city, and advise the city clerk of such costs, as well as any other costs of damage to public property or injuries to personnel resulting from the law enforcement response. The person responsible for the event as above described shall be billed for these costs by the city clerk upon notice of the charges from the sheriff, and payment shall be due and payable within fifteen days of the billing date. Should the amount due not be paid, the city may collect the debt, as well as any costs incurred in collecting the debt due to nonpayment, pursuant to any available provision of law. (Ord. 718 § 1 (part), 1993)
9.68.040 Written notice to responsible persons.
The sheriff is authorized and directed to prepare appropriate advisory procedures to be followed by deputies responding to a large gathering, including preparation of written materials advising the responsible person or persons of the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 718 § 1 (part), 1993)