Subd. 1. Definition. For the purpose of this section, the following definition shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
A. PARADE. Any movement of vehicles, persons or animals or any combination thereof, which either moves together and as a body so as to in some way impede or affect the free and unobstructed flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic, or which moves so that some part thereof is in violation of one or more traffic laws or regulations, if the movement is without a permit hereunder.
Subd. 2. Permit required.
A. It is a misdemeanor to sponsor or participate in a parade for which no permit has been obtained from the city and it is also a misdemeanor to obtain a parade permit and not conduct the same in accordance with the permit granted by the city.
B. Application for the permit shall be made to the City Administrator at least seven days in advance of the date on which it is to occur and shall state the sponsoring organization or individual, the route, the length, the estimated time of commencement and termination, the general composition and the application shall be executed by the individuals applying therefor or the duly authorized agent or representative of the sponsoring organization.
Subd. 3. Investigation. The City Administrator shall forthwith refer all applications for parades to the Chief of Police for his or her consideration which shall take no longer than two days. If any state trunk highways are in the route, the Chief of Police shall make all necessary arrangements with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for alternate routes or whatever may be necessary. If the Chief of Police finds that such a parade will not cause a hazard to persons or property, and will cause no great inconvenience to the public, and if he or she is able to make arrangements for necessary direction and control of traffic, he or she shall endorse his or her acceptance and return the application to the City Administrator, who shall then issue the permit. If the Chief of Police finds the parade described in the application to be a hazard, a substantial inconvenience or if he or she is unable to make adequate arrangements for direction or control of traffic, he or she shall return the same to the City Administrator with his or her reasons for denial.
Subd. 4. Council action. In the event the Chief of Police recommends against granting the parade permit, the City Administrator shall refer the application and results of investigation to the Council at its next regular meeting. If the Council does not hold a regular meeting before the anticipated date of the parade, the City Administrator shall ask the Mayor to call a special meeting for the purpose of promptly acting on the parade permit. The Council may either deny the permit, grant the permit or grant the permit on condition that a date, time or route are acceptable to the applicant which differ from such as stated in the application. Applicant shall communicate his or her acceptance of the conditions to the City Administrator within not less than 24 hours after any action of the Council which would change the date, time or route of the proposed parade.
(Ord. 140, Second Series, passed 11-29-86)
Subd. 5. Unlawful acts.
A. It is unlawful for any person to hamper, obstruct or impede or interfere with any parade, parade assembly or any person, animal or vehicle participating in the parade.
B. It is unlawful for any person to drive a vehicle between the vehicles or persons comprising a parade when the parade is in motion.
C. It is unlawful for any person to enter into a parade without prior authorization from the parade chairperson.
Subd. 6. Exceptions. This section shall not apply to funeral processions or a governmental agency acting within the scope of its functions.
(`80 Code, § 7.14) Penalty, see § 1.99