(A) A state of emergency shall be deemed to exist whenever, during times of great public crises, disaster, rioting, catastrophe or similar public emergency, for any reason municipal public safety authorities are unable to maintain public order or afford adequate protection for lives, safety or property.
(B) In the event of an existing or threatened state of emergency endangering the lives, safety, health and welfare of the people within the city or threatening damage to or destruction of property, the Mayor is hereby authorized and empowered to issue a public proclamation declaring to all persons the existence of a state of emergency and in order more effectively to protect the lives, safety and property of people within the city, to define and impose a curfew applicable to all persons within the jurisdiction of the city.
(C) The Mayor is hereby authorized and empowered to limit the application of the curfew to any area specifically designated and described within the corporate limits of the city and to specific hours of the day or night; and to exempt from the curfew police officers, firefighters, doctors, nurses and other such classes of persons as may be essential to the preservation of public order and immediately necessary to serve the safety, health and welfare needs of the people within the city.
(D) The Mayor shall proclaim the end of the state of emergency and curfew as soon as circumstances warrant, or when directed to do so by the City Council.
(E) During the existence of a proclaimed state of emergency when a curfew has been imposed, it shall be unlawful for anyone subject to the curfew:
(1) To be or travel upon any public street, alley or roadway or upon public property, unless in search of medical assistance, food or other commodity or service necessary to sustain the well-being of himself or herself or his or her family or some member thereof;
(2) To possess off one’s own premises, buy, sell, give away or otherwise transfer or dispose of any explosive, firearms, ammunition or dangerous weapons of any kinds;
(3) To sell beer, wines or intoxicating beverages of any kind; or to possess or consume same off one’s own premises; or
(4) To sell gasoline or any other similar petroleum products or any other inflammable substance except as expressly authorized by the provisions of the curfew imposed.
(1995 Code, § 3-14) (Ord. passed 1-8-1968)