[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Laconia 12-29-1975 as Ch. 61
of the Public Ordinances of 1975. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The City Council of the City of Laconia hereby declares that
there is an urgent need for the City of Laconia to provide emergency
services to its inhabitants in the event of emergencies, such as fire,
flooding, windstorm, hurricane, heavy snowfall, civil disorders or
whatever events which may arise which tend to jeopardize the peace,
safety and welfare of the City; that it is in the interest of the
public welfare to render aid and assistance in emergencies to the
inhabitants of the City of Laconia; and that emergency services are
a proper and necessary public service requiring municipal supervision
for the safety and welfare of the City's inhabitants.
This chapter shall be deemed and construed thereby an exercise
of police power of the City of Laconia, in the State of New Hampshire,
for the preservation and protection of public safety and welfare,
and all its provisions shall be liberally construed with a view to
the effectuation of such purpose.
In the event of an emergency or potential emergency situation,
such as any natural disaster or man-made calamity, including fire,
flooding, windstorm, hurricane, heavy snowfall or civil disorders,
such as riots or unlawful assembly characterized by the use of actual
or potential force or violence, the Manager shall have the authority
to order that vehicles be removed from any and all public streets,
ways and parking lots situated in the City and shall direct the Police
Department to cause to be removed any vehicle left upon any public
street, way or parking lot which shall constitute a hazard or impediment
to the passage of fire equipment, ambulances and other emergency vehicles.
Every owner of a motor vehicle left on any public street, way or parking
lot within the City of Laconia by so leaving said vehicle consents
to such removal and assumes thereby the cost of such removal and storage
charges resulting therefrom and waives thereby any claim against the
City of Laconia or any corporation, firm or individual for any damages
arising from such removal. Also, in the event of such an emergency,
the Manager may order:
A.Â
A general curfew applicable to such geographical areas of the City
or to the City as a whole as he deems advisable, and such curfew to
be applicable during such hours of day or night as he deems necessary
in the interest of public safety and welfare.
B.Â
The closing of all beer taverns, private clubs or portions thereof
wherein consumption of intoxicating liquor or beer is permitted.
C.Â
The discontinuance of the sale of any intoxicating beverage.
D.Â
The discontinuance of selling, distributing or giving away gasoline
or other liquid flammable or combustible products in any container
other than in a gasoline tank properly affixed to a motor vehicle.
E.Â
The closing of gasoline stations and other establishments, the chief
activity of which is the sale, distribution or dispensing of liquid
flammable or combustible products.
F.Â
The discontinuance of selling, distributing, dispensing or giving
away of any firearms or ammunition of any character.
G.Â
The closing of all establishment's or portions thereof which
sell, distribute, dispense or give away firearms or ammunition of
any character.
H.Â
The issuance of such orders as are imminently necessary for the protection
of life and property and peace and welfare of the City's inhabitants.
Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter
shall be guilty of a violation punishable by a fine not exceeding
$500, imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both. Such person
shall be deemed to be guilty of a separate offense for each and every
day during any portion of which any violation of this chapter is committed,
continued or permitted by such person and shall be punishable therefor
as provided therein.
