(A) No person shall wear a mask, hood or device by which any portion of that person’s face is so hidden, concealed or covered as to conceal the identity of the wearer when the person is upon any public way or public property or upon the private property of another without the written permission of the owner or occupier of the property to do so.
(B) The following are exempted from the provisions of division (A), above:
(1) Any person or persons wearing traditional holiday costumes in season;
(2) Any person or persons engaged in trades or employment or sporting activity where a mask is worn for the purpose of ensuring the physical safety of the wearer, or because of the nature of the trade, employment or sporting activity;
(3) Any person or persons using masks in theatrical productions including use in Mardi Gras celebrations and masquerade balls;
(4) Any person or persons wearing gas masks prescribed in emergency management or civil defense drills and exercises or emergencies;
(5) Any person or persons wearing a mask, hood or other device for bona fide medical reasons upon the advice of a licensed physician or osteopath;
(6) Any person wearing a mask for protection against inclement weather; and
(7) Any person or persons, as members or members elect of a society, order or organization, engaged in any parade, public assembly, ritual, initiation, ceremony, celebration, requirement or gathering of such society, order or organization, and wearing or using any manner of costume, paraphernalia, disguise, facial makeup, hood, implement or device, whether the identity of the person or persons is concealed or not, on any public or private street, road, way or property, or in any public building, or on any private property or in any public or private building, for which parade, public assembly, ritual, initiation, ceremony, celebration, requirement or gathering a permit is required by any ordinance or regulation of the city and for which a permit has been obtained.
(C) For the purposes of this section, a PUBLIC PLACE shall mean any lane, walk, alley, street, road, public way or highway within the city or upon any property owned by a governmental entity of the city.
(D) Any person violating this section shall, upon conviction, be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $25 and not more than $2,500 for each violation.
(1979 Code, § 100.04) (Ord. 4374, passed 8-17-1998)