No person shall loiter in or around, or obstruct the free access to or free use of, public buildings, stores, shops, public streets, public ways or public shopping malls, or obstruct corridors, stairways or doorways so as to prevent free access by members of the public, officers, employees, occupants or any other persons. No person shall, by his or her presence or by his or her conduct, either alone or in consort with others, interfere with or interrupt the conduct of business in such stores or shops or in the offices located in any such buildings in the City. No person shall sit, stand, lie or recline on any improvement, such as pools, planters, walls, retaining fixtures, sidewalks and curbings or on any such improvement which is not specifically provided for or intended for such purpose or use in any public place, including public plazas and shopping malls such as the Stephenson Street Shopping Mall between State Avenue and Van Buren Avenue. A person commits a violation if he or she, singly or with others, loiters or prowls in a place, at a time or in a manner not usual for law abiding individuals, under circumstances that warrant alarm for the safety of persons or property in the vicinity. Among the circumstances which may be considered in determining whether such alarm is warranted is the fact that the actor takes flight upon appearance of a police officer, refuses to identify himself or herself or manifestly endeavors to conceal himself or herself or any object. Unless flight by the actor or other circumstances make it impracticable, a police officer shall, prior to any arrest for an offense under this section, afford the actor the opportunity to dispel any alarm which would otherwise be warranted by requesting him or her to identify himself or herself and explain his or her presence and conduct. No person shall be convicted of an offense under this section if the police officer did not comply with the preceding sentence, or if it appears that the explanation given by the actor was true and, if believed by the police officer at the time, would have dispelled the alarm. This section shall not be construed to prohibit innocent public assembly or political, religious or civil demonstrations, gatherings or activities, but rather to prohibit conduct calculated to do harm to the persons or property of others and to the rights and freedom of others.
(1977 Code § 46-145)