Chapter 9.28
PEDESTRIAN INTERFERENCE
Sections:
9.28.020 Pedestrian interference – Violation.
9.28.030 Urinating in public – Violation.
9.28.010 Definitions.
“Aggressively beg” means to beg with the intent to intimidate another person into giving money or goods.
“Beg” means to ask for money or goods as a charity, whether by words, bodily gestures, signs or other means.
“Intimidate” means to engage in conduct which would make a reasonable person fearful or feel compelled, such as, but not limited to, touching the person solicited, following the person solicited, directing profane or abusive language toward the person solicited, using violent or threatening gestures toward the person solicited or persisting in begging after the person solicited has given a negative response.
“Obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic” means to walk, stand, sit, lie or place an object in such a manner as to block passage in a public place 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 shall not constitute obstruction of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
“Public place,” as used in this chapter, 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. (Ord. 555 § 1, 1994)
9.28.020 Pedestrian interference – Violation.
A person is guilty of pedestrian interference if, in a public place, he or she intentionally:
A. Obstructs pedestrian or vehicular traffic; or
B. Aggressively begs. (Ord. 555 § 2, 1994)
9.28.030 Urinating in public – Violation.
A person is guilty of urinating in public if he or she intentionally urinates or defecates in a public place, other than a washroom or toilet room or similar toilet facilities designed to handle human waste, under circumstances where such act could be observed by any member of the public. (Ord. 555 § 3, 1994)
9.28.040 Penalties.
A. Twenty-Five-Dollar Penalty for Initial Offense. It is a civil infraction with a monetary penalty of $25.00 for the initial offense committed in violation of this chapter.
B. Misdemeanor – Penalty for Second and Subsequent Offenses. Any person who has a second or subsequent offense committed in violation of the provisions of this chapter or similar provisions of state and local law within a two-year period of having been convicted of a violation of the provisions of this chapter or similar provisions of state and local law, or who failed to appear as directed when served with a citation and notice to appear for a violation of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor. (Ord. 555 § 4, 1994)