[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village
of Hancock 3-10-1997 by L.L. No. 1-1997. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Noise — See Ch. 74.
The Village Board of the Village of Hancock makes the following
findings:
A.
There have been numerous citizen complaints directed to the Mayor
and Trustees and other local officials concerning the incidence of
persons gathering in the public areas of the Village without a legitimate
reason for being there. Investigation of these complaints has resulted
in the finding that, in the places complained of, extremely large
quantities of refuse, empty beverage containers and other litter have
accumulated. In addition, it has been recognized and reported that
such illegitimate gatherings have discouraged citizens from legitimate
utilization of these areas.
B.
The complaints received and the investigations show that such illegitimate
gatherings very often are participated in by very large groups of
people and are associated with noise, yelling, often of an obscene
nature, fighting and rowdiness in addition to litter.
C.
It is also found that where this kind of illegitimate gathering occurs,
acts of vandalism have been found to occur and damage to public and
private property has been sustained. It is also found that the protection
of the health, safety and welfare of the community requires action
in the public interest to regulate such behavior.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
To stand, lounge, congregate or remain parked in a motor
vehicle at a public place or place open to the public and to engage
in any conduct prohibited under this chapter. Loiter also means to
collect, gather, congregate or be a member of a group or of a crowd
of people who are gathered together in any public place or place open
to the public and to engage in any conduct prohibited under this chapter.
Any place open to the public or any place to which the public
is invited and in, on or around any privately owned place of business,
private parking lot or private institution, including places of worship
or any place of amusement and entertainment, whether or not a charge
of admission or entry thereto is made. It includes the elevator, lobby,
halls, corridors and areas open to the public of any store, office
or apartment building, as well as parking lots or other vacant private
property not owned by or under the control of the person charged with
violating this chapter or, in the case of a minor, not owned by or
under the control of his parent or guardian.
Any public street, road or highway, alley, lane, sidewalk,
crosswalk or other public way or any public resort, place of amusement,
park, playground, public building or grounds appurtenant thereto,
school building or school grounds, public parking lot or any vacant
lot.
The Village of Hancock.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person or group of persons to loiter
at, on or in a public place or a place open to the public in such
manner:
(1)
As to interfere with, impede or hinder the free passage of pedestrian
or vehicular traffic.
(2)
As to interfere with, obstruct, harass, curse or threaten or do physical
harm to another member or members of the public.
(3)
That, by words, acts or other conduct, it is clear and there is a
reasonable likelihood to result in a breach of the peace or disorderly
conduct or to cause annoyance, inconvenience or alarm or to create
a risk thereof.
B.
It shall be unlawful for any person to loiter, as defined herein,
at a public place or place open to the public and to fail to obey
the direction of a uniformed police officer or the direction of a
properly identified police officer not in uniform to move on, when
not to obey such direction shall endanger the public peace and safety.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall
be punished, upon conviction, by a fine of not more than $250 for
each offense. Each day that a violation of or failure to comply with
any provision of this enactment or any regulations promulgated hereunder
by the Village Board occurs, it shall constitute a separate and distinct
violation.
