Needles Municipal Code Art. 18 V Conduct On Public Property

18-42 Public Property Defined 18-43 Vandalism 18-44 Structures--Tents--Ropes And Lines 18-45 Trees And Plants 18-46 Climbing Trees--Inappropriate Sitting Or Lying 18-47 Sleeping--Disorderly Conduct 18-48 Prohibited Trespass 18-49 Violations - Penalty HISTORY Amended by Ord. 677-AC on 9/9/2025 18-42 Public Property Defined

For the purpose of this chapter, “public property” means any publicly owned property within the city, except the traveled portion of any public streets, and shall include but not be limited to any park, sidewalk, curb, or any public right-of-way devoted to planting.

18-43 Vandalism

It is unlawful for any person to willfully mark, deface, disfigure, injure, tamper with, displace or remove any railing, bench, or any facilities or property and equipment of any public utility, or parts of appurtenances thereof, signs, notices, placards, whether temporary or permanent, monuments, stakes, posts or other boundary markers, wall or rock border, or other structures or equipment, facilities or public property or appurtenances whatever, either real or personal.

18-44 Structures--Tents--Ropes And Lines

It is unlawful for any person to construct or erect any building or structure of whatever kind, whether permanent or temporary in character, any tent, fly or windbreaker, or run or string any rope, cord or wire into, upon or across any public property, except on special permit issued pursuant to a city ordinance, resolution or regulation.

18-45 Trees And Plants

It is unlawful for any person to, without a city permit, damage, cut, carve, burn, transplant or remove any tree or plant, or injure the bark or pick the flowers or seeds of any tree or plant, nor shall any person attach any pole, wire or other contrivance to any tree or plant. No person shall dig in or otherwise disturb or in any way injure or impair the natural beauty or usefulness of any park area.

18-46 Climbing Trees--Inappropriate Sitting Or Lying

It is unlawful for any person to climb any tree or walk, stand or sit upon monuments, vases, fountains, railings, fences, planted areas or upon any other property not designed or customarily used for such purposes, or to sit on any sidewalks or steps or to lie or sit on any lawns which are posted with a sign prohibiting this use on the lawn area.

18-47 Sleeping--Disorderly Conduct

It is unlawful for a person to sleep on any public sidewalks, curbs, planters, or walls, or to block pedestrian traffic on the sidewalk or other public walks, ways or footpaths devoted to pedestrian use.

18-48 Prohibited Trespass

(a) It is unlawful for any person to enter or remain upon any posted public property during those hours prohibited by the signs posted thereon without the written permission of the owner, tenant, or occupant in the legal possession or control thereof.

(b) The signs shall be not less than one square foot in area and will have letters not less than two inches in height which shall read "Trespassing-Loitering Forbidden by City of Needles Municipal Code Article 18-V" followed by a designation of specific hours during which such trespassing and loitering are prohibited. These signs shall be posted at each entrance to the property and on at least two prominent places on the exterior boundaries of the property where they are clearly visible from outside of the property.

18-49 Violations - Penalty

Any person violating any of the provisions of this Article 18-V shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction be punished by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment, not exceeding six months or by both such fine and imprisonment. Every separate violation of this Article shall be deemed a separate offense.