1656 - Ordinance - Crimes that Interfere with Pedestrians in a Public PlaceRepealed by Ordinance 1724
Date: 05-26-98
ORDINANCE NO. 1656
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT ORCHARD, WASHINGTON
AMENDING TITLE NINE OF THE PORT ORCHARD MUNICIPAL CODE
BY ADDING A SECTION RELATING TO CRIMES THAT INTERFERE
WITH PEDESTRIANS IN A PUBLIC PLACE.
WHEREAS, there have been numerous complaints from citizens, about
aggressive behavior on Port Orchard streets; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the protection of the health, peace and
welfare of the citizens of Port Orchard to restrict the level of such panhandling
so as not to intimidate persons or unduly interfere with persons.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ORCHARD, WASHINGTON, DOES
ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Pedestrian interference
A. The following definitions apply in this section:
1. "Aggressively beg" means to beg with the intent to
intimidate another person into giving money or goods.
2. "Intimidate" means to engage in threatening conduct
which would make a reasonable person fearful of harm
to his or her person or property.
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.
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.
Ordinance No. 1656
Page Two of Two
B. A person is guilty of pedestrian interference if, in a
public place, he or she intentionally:
1. Obstructs pedestrian or vehicular traffic; or
2. Aggressively begs.
C. Pedestrian interference is a misdemeanor.
SECTION 2. The provisions of this ordinance are declared to be
separate and severable. The invalidity of any clause, sentence, paragraph,
subdivision, section or portion of this ordinance, or the invalidity of the
application thereof to any person or circumstance shall not affect the
validity of the remainder of this ordinance, or the validity of its
application to other persons or circumstances.
SECTION 3. Pedestrian interference may be punished by a fine not
to exceed $500.00 or by imprisonment in jail for a term not to exceed 90 days,
or by both such fine and imprisonment.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Port Orchard, APPROVED
by the Mayor and attested by the Clerk in authentication of such passage this
22nd day of July, 1996.
LESLIE J. WEATHERILL, MAYOR
ATTEST:
Patricia Parks, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM: Sponsored by:
ty Attorney Councilman Geiger
NOTICE OF CITY OF PORT ORCHARD
ORDINANCE
The following is a summary of an Ordinance approved by the Port Orchard City Council at their
regular Council meeting held August 12, 1996.
ORDINANCE NO. 1656
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT ORCHARD, WASHINGTON AMENDING
TITLE NINE OF THE PORT ORCHARD MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING A SECTION
RELATING TO CRIMES THAT INTERFERE WITH PEDESTRIANS IN A PUBLIC
PLACE.
Copies of Ordinance No. 1656 are available for review at the office of the City Clerk
of the City of Port Orchard. Upon written request a statement of the full text of the
Ordinance will be mailed to any interested person without charge. Thirty days after
publication, copies of Ordinance No. 1656 will be provided at a nominal charge.
City of Port Orchard
Y`dJL&UQ:�
Michelle Hager
Deputy City Clerk
Publish: Port Orchard Independent
August 21, 1996