(a) No person shall loiter, loaf, wander, stand or remain idle either alone and/or in consort with others in a public place in such a manner as to:
(1) Obstruct any public street, highway, sidewalk or any other public place or building by hindering or impeding, or tending to hinder or impede, the free and uninterrupted passage of vehicles, traffic or pedestrians; or
(2) Commit, in or upon any public street, highway, sidewalk or any other public place or building, any act or thing which is an obstruction or interference to the free and uninterrupted use of property or with any business lawfully conducted by anyone in or upon or facing or fronting on any such public street, highway, sidewalk or any other public place or building, all of which prevents the free and uninterrupted ingress, egress and regress therein, thereon and thereto.
(1976 Code § 12-16.)
(b) No person shall loiter on quasipublic portions of private property, or institutional property of a public nature, such as schools, churches, etc., and which loitering is not part of or associated with the trade, business or occupation carried on or conducted on such private property. This provision does not apply to participation in a recognized athletic activity, facilities for which are provided by the institutional proprietor.
(Ord. 588. Passed 6-14-82.)
(c) When a person causes or commits any of the conditions set forth in subsections (a) and (b) hereof a police officer or other law enforcement officer shall order such person to stop causing or committing such condition and to move on or disperse. Whoever fails or refuses to obey such order shall be guilty of a violation of this section.
(d) A person is also in violation of this section if he or she 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.
(1) Among the circumstances which may be considered in determining whether such alarm is warranted is the fact that the actor takes flight upon the appearance of a peace officer, refuses to identify himself or herself or manifestly endeavors to conceal himself or herself or any object.
(2) Unless flight by the actor or another circumstance makes it impractical, a peace officer shall, prior to any arrest for an offense under this subsection, afford the actor an 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.
(3) No person shall be convicted of an offense under this subsection if the peace officer did not afford the actor such opportunity or if it appears, at trial, that the explanation given by the actor was true and, if believed by the peace officer at the time, would have dispelled the alarm.
(1976 Code § 12-16.)