Los Altos Municipal Code Ch. 7.24 Unlawful Assembly

Nothing herein contained is intended or shall be construed to be in conflict with or as a limitation upon any provisions of the Penal Code or the Vehicle Code of the state of California.

(Prior code § 4-4.07)

For the purposes of this chapter, unless otherwise apparent from the context, certain words and phrases used in this chapter are defined as follows:

"Congregate" means to gather into a mass or crowd of more than four persons.

"Duly authorized agent" includes, but is not limited to, any police officer of the city who has been given specific or general authority on behalf of the owner of a parking lot to request that persons thereon leave the area.

"Parking area" means a paved or unpaved area, privately or publicly owned, open to the public for the purpose of parking vehicles.

(Prior code § 4-4.08)

A.

When a sign is in place giving notice of the provisions hereof, it shall be an infraction for the driver of any vehicle to park or allow it to remain parked upon any parking area in the city while congregating with other individuals.

B.

When a sign is in place giving notice of the provisions hereof, it shall be an infraction for any person to intentionally congregate with others upon any parking area in the city except:

While crossing said area in the course of entering or exiting a store or service adjacent to or nearby said area;

While exiting, entering or being in a vehicle whose driver or occupant is patronizing a store or service or while said vehicle is exiting or entering said building.

C.

It shall be an infraction for any person to congregate, or remain upon any parking area when asked to leave by a police officer or the owner thereof or his duly authorized agent.

(Prior code § 4-4.09)

This chapter shall not apply to:

A.

Any person who is present in the parking area for the purpose of patronizing a store or service;

B.

Any person who has written permission of the owner of said parking area to be or remain on said area or to park a vehicle upon said area;

C.

Where application of this chapter would result in an interference with or inhibition of any exercise of a constitutionally protected right of freedom of speech, such as, but not limited to, peaceful expression of political or religious opinions not involving a public nuisance;

D.

Where application of this chapter would result in an interference with or inhibition of peaceful labor picketing or other lawful labor activities;

E.

To any person or persons who have been invited by the parking area proprietors onto the parking area to participate in, attend or observe a private or public event including, but not necessarily limited to, fairs, carnivals, concerts or festivals.

(Prior code § 4-4.10)