(a) For the purpose of this section the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings ascribed to them.
(1) “Loitering” means remaining idle in essentially one location including the concepts of spending time idly, loafing or walking about aimlessly and including the colloquial expression “hanging around”.
(2) “Quasi-public” means any place privately owned but opened to the public generally such as shopping centers, retail stores, transportation terminals, movie theaters, office buildings, restaurants, parking lots, and all distinctly private places such as homes or private residences and apartment houses.
(3) “Public place” means public streets and alleyways, public restrooms, public sidewalks, public parks, public buildings and Municipal airports.
(4) “Surrounding area” means that area easily and immediately accessible to the person under observation.
(b) No person shall loiter, loaf, wander, stand or remain idle either alone and/or in consort with others in a public place or quasi-public place in such manner so as to:
(1) Obstruct any public street, public highway, public sidewalk or any other public or quasi-public place or building by hindering or impeding or tend to hinder or impede the free and uninterrupted passage of vehicles, traffic or pedestrians;
(2) Commit in or upon any public street, public highway, public sidewalk or any other public or quasi-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, public highway, public sidewalk or any other public or quasi-public place or building, all of which prevents the free and uninterrupted ingress, egress and regress therein, thereon and thereto;
(3) Linger about the doorway of any building, or sit or linger upon the steps, windowsills, railings, fence or parking area adjacent to any building in such a manner so as to obstruct or partially obstruct ingress to or egress from such building or in such a manner to annoy the owner(s) or occupant(s).
(4) Remain for more than five minutes on any private premise which is posted with a conspicuous sign containing the words “NO LOITERING” when:
A. The business establishment is closed; or
B. The person charged does not visibly demonstrate any intent to conduct business at the establishment or to leave the premise after having conducted such business; or
C. After having been asked by the owner(s) or occupant(s) of the business to leave the premise or;
(5) Remain for more than five minutes on any public business premise or private non-business premise which is posted with a conspicuous sign containing the words “NO LOITERING” when:
A. The public business premise neither has been nor will be open for business in thirty minutes; or
B. The private non-business premise is occupied or unoccupied; or
(6) Linger for any length of time upon any public, quasi-public or private premises or move in a slow and deliberate manner without purpose, or otherwise interfere with, obstruct or render dangerous or unreasonable for passage, any public highway, sidewalk, parking area or right of way after having been warned, either orally or in writing by the owner(s), agent(s), manager(s) or person(s) in charge thereof, or by any law enforcement officer, that such conduct will result in a charge or citation to Court under this section.
(c) Whoever violates any provision of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(Ord. 217-9. Passed 5-20-96.)
(Ord. 217-9. Passed 5-20-96.)