McFarland Municipal Code Ch. 12.20 Parades, Meetings and Assemblies on Public Streets

No person shall conduct a meeting, assembly or parade in or upon the public streets or highways of the city, or participate in any such meeting, assembly or parade unless and until a permit to conduct such meeting, assembly or parade has been obtained from the chief of police or, as provided in this chapter, from the council of the city.

(Ord. 105 §1, 1968)

A. Any person desirous of conducting a parade shall apply to the chief of police for a permit therefor a period of time in advance of such proposed parade which will permit the chief of police to promptly take administrative action thereon after taking into consideration his other duties as chief of police. The application for such permit shall be made in writing on a form approved by the chief of police. In order that adequate arrangements may be made for the proper policing of the parade, the application shall contain the following information:

1. The name, address and telephone number of the person requesting the permit. If the parade is proposed to be conducted for, on behalf of or by an organization, the name, address and telephone number of the headquarters of the organization, and of the authorized head of such organization.

2. The name, address and telephone number of the person who will be the parade chairman and will be responsible for its conduct.

3. The purpose of the parade.

4. The date when the parade is to be conducted.

5. The hours when the parade will start and terminate.

6. The route of the parade.

7. The approximate number of persons who, and the number and kind of vehicles and animals which will constitute the parade.

8. The location of the assembly area of the parade.

9. The location of the dispersal area of the parade.

10. The plans for the assembly and dispersal of the parade, including the times thereof.

11. A statement as to whether the parade will occupy all or only a portion of the streets proposed to be traversed.

12. Such other information as the chief of police may require.

B. If there has been no prior application for a parade at said time and place, the chief of police shall issue a permit granting the application, subject to the provisions of Section 12.20.040. In the event that there has been a prior application for a parade to be held at said time, the chief of police may deny the permit. The applicant for the parade permit shall be notified in writing of the action of the chief of police in granting or denying the permit at least ten days prior to the date of the proposed parade. In the event the application is denied, the written notice of such denial shall set forth the reasons therefor.

(Ord. 210 §8, 1987; Ord. 105 §2, 1968)

A. Applications may be made by any person to hold a meeting or assembly, and the application for such meeting or assembly must be filed with the chief of police at least forty-eight hours in advance of the date of the proposed meeting or assembly, specifying the time and place thereof, the name of the person or organization desiring the permit and such other information as may be required by the chief of police in order to enable him to make adequate arrangements, as circumstances may require, for the proper policing of the proposed meeting or assembly.

B. The chief of police shall forthwith issue the permit granting the application unless prior application for said time and place has been made, in which event another time and place may be selected, and upon the selection of the alternative time and place by the applicant, the chief of police shall forthwith grant a permit therefor, subject to the provisions of Section 12.20.040.

(Ord. 105 §3, 1968)

The chief of police may refuse a permit for either a meeting, assembly or parade when in his judgment the conditions of vehicular and pedestrian traffic or the effect upon stores, offices and other public places of business, or upon the residences, hospitals, churches, institutions reserved for the sick, schools or educational institutions in the vicinity, all considered in relation to the safety, comfort and convenience of the public generally, shall so warrant.

(Ord. 105 §4, 1968)

Upon a denial by the chief of police of an application made in pursuance of Sections 12.20.020 or 12.20.030, the applicant may appeal from the determination of the chief of police within two days thereafter to the city council of the city by filing the application with the city clerk who shall set the appeal for hearing by the council at its next meeting. Upon such appeal, the council may reverse, affirm or modify in any regard the determination of the chief of police. To carry out the judgment of the council upon appeal, the chief of police shall be directed to act in conformity with the judgment of the council.

(Ord. 105 §5, 1968)

Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or by both fine and imprisonment.

(Ord. 105 §6, 1968)