Redondo Beach Municipal Code Ch. 32 Police Response at Loud or Unruly Assemblages

Note: Chapter 32, codified from Ordinance Nos. 2575 c.s. and 2589 c.s., amended in its entirety by Ordinance No. 2724 c.s., effective March 17, 1994.

For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

"Loud or unruly disturbance"

means (1) one or more persons who are causing an inordinate amount of noise or commotion or behaving in such a manner which constitutes a threat to the public peace, health, safety or general welfare; or (2) the maintaining, or permitting the keeping of, any barking dog or other animal or fowl, by any sound or outcry, shall result in noise levels at the complainant's property line which are audible for more than five minutes in any hour.

"Primary police officer"

means the police officer or animal control officer who was dispatched to the location of a reported loud or unruly disturbance, or such officer's supervisor.

"Special security assignment"

means the dispatch of police personnel and services during the second and any subsequent police call to a location after the police call during which a police officer distributed a written warning that a loud or unruly disturbance is occurring and the continuation of such event is a violation of law.

"Person responsible for the loud or unruly disturbance"

includes the following:

(1)

The legal resident(s) of the property where a loud or unruly disturbance takes place; and/or

(2)

The person(s) who organized, sponsored, hosted or otherwise created the loud or unruly disturbance, each and all of whom shall be jointly and severally liable for the special security assignment fee. If the person responsible for the loud or unruly disturbance is a minor, the parent(s) or guardian(s) of such minor shall be jointly and severally liable for the special security assignment fee.

(§ 1, Ord. 2724 c.s., eff. March 17, 1994, as amended by § 1, Ord. 2846, c.s., eff. April 6, 2000)

When the primary police officer at a scene determines that a loud or unruly disturbance, as defined, is occurring, the primary police officer shall notify the person responsible for the loud or unruly disturbance, in writing and if possible, in person, that such person, or if such person is a minor, that such minor's parent(s) or guardian(s) shall be held personally liable for the costs of providing police personnel and equipment on any special security assignment required by the continuation of the loud or unruly disturbance. In the event that the loud or unruly disturbance is caused by a barking dog or other animal or fowl, no fee shall be assessed under this chapter unless the same or similar loud or unruly disturbance occurs more than 24 hours after written notification has been given.

(§ 1, Ord. 2724 c.s., eff. March 17, 1994, as amended by § 2, Ord. 2846 c.s., eff. April 6, 2000, and § 1, Ord. 2868 c.s., eff. March 8, 2001)

(a) The person responsible for a loud or unruly disturbance shall be liable to the City for a fee to recover the costs of the special security assignment. The amount of such fee shall be set forth by resolution of the City Council. In addition, the person responsible for a loud or unruly disturbance shall be liable to the City for injury to City personnel and damage to City property occurring in connection with such loud or unruly disturbance.

(b) All fees levied for the costs of the special security assignment and charges for injury to City personnel and damage to City property shall be due and payable upon presentation. All fees and charges shall constitute a valid and subsisting debt in favor of the City and against the person(s) responsible for a loud or unruly disturbance. If all or a portion of such fees and charges remains unpaid and due to the City after the City has made a reasonable attempt to collect such debt, the City may file a civil action for the unpaid amount due plus any penalties and related charges owing because of nonpayment, and costs and attorneys fees in connection with the collection efforts and the civil lawsuit.

(§ 1, Ord. 2724 c.s., eff. March 17, 1994)

The provisions of this chapter are an additional authority for the regulation of loud or unruly disturbances, and shall supplement and not replace the enforcement of any other available law or ordinance of any type, including, but not limited to, arrest or citation of violators of state statute or any other regulation.

(§ 1, Ord. 2724 c.s., eff. March 17, 1994)