Susanville Municipal Code Ch. 9.04 Offenses Generally

No person shall maintain or operate any electrical device or apparatus which shall cause reasonable preventable interference with radio or television receivers within the city. No electric sign or other device using a so-called blinking device, whereby a make and break contact is maintained, shall be maintained unless equipped with condensers properly grounded so as to limit interference; nor shall electric pianos or other similar machines be operated unless similarly equipped or shielded. Violet ray, infra-red ray and X-ray machines causing interference shall not be used between six p.m. and eleven p.m. except in emergencies.

(Prior code § 14.7)

Every person maintaining within the city lines whereby electricity is transmitted or which are used for the transmission of signals shall at all times maintain the lines and the equipment thereon in such a manner as not to cause any preventable interference with radio or television receivers within the city.

(Prior code § 14.8)

It is unlawful for any person to do or cause to be done any of the following acts or things:

A. Connect with or make any connection to, any wire, line, cable, conductor, instrument or appliance of any closed circuit television system within the city without having first obtained from the owner or operator thereof permission so to do.

B. Make, install, place, arrange, construct, use or employ instrument, device, appliance, cable, conductor or wire in such proximity to any part of a closed circuit television system within the city that the electric or electronic energy impulses, transmissions or signals transmitted in or upon such closed circuit television system are or may be obtained, reproduced or induced in such instrument, device, appliance, cable, conductor or wire, without having first obtained from the owner or operator of such closed circuit television system permission so to do.

C. Use, employ or reproduce in any television set or similar device within the city any electric or electronic energy, impulse, transmission or signal obtained, reproduced or induced in the manner described in subsection B of this section, without having first obtained from the owner or operator of such closed circuit television system permission so to do.

D. As used in this section, the term "closed circuit television" shall mean any system or arrangement whereby a signal or impulse broadcast from a television broadcasting station is received at a given place or places and thence, in any manner, conducted or distributed to television receiving sets by means of wires, cables or conductors or any combination of wires, cables or conductors.

(Prior code § 14.9)

Other than in defense of person or property, it is unlawful for any person to fire, shoot or discharge within the corporate limits of the city, any firearms or any cannon, gun, pistol, revolver, automatic pistol, rifle, shotgun, BB gun, airgun, pellet gun, spring operated or gas operated gun, or any instrument or device of any kind, character or description which throws, discharges, propels, or hurls bullets or missiles of any kind to any distance from such instrument by means of elastic force, air pressure, vacuum, or explosive force, except in a gun testing site or in or upon a rifle or pistol range, which site or range has been approved and certified as approved by the chief of police.

(Prior code § 14.9-1)

A. Generally—Criteria for Judging. Except during permitted hours, as defined in the following subsections no person within the city shall make or cause the making of, or suffer or permit to be made, upon any premises, owned, occupied or controlled by such persons, any loud, unusual, penetrating or boisterous noise, disturbance, or commotion, which shall cause discomfort or annoyance to a reasonable person of normal sensitiveness.

The standards which shall be considered in determining whether a violation of this section exists shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

1. The volume of the noise.

2. The intensity of the noise.

3. Whether the nature of the noise is usual or unusual.

4. Whether the origin of the noise is natural or unnatural.

5. The volume and intensity of the background noise, if any.

6. The proximity of the noise to residential sleeping facilities.

7. The nature and zoning of the area within which the noise emanates.

8. The density of inhabitation of the area within which the noise emanates.

9. The time of the day or night the noise occurs.

10. The duration of the noise.

11. Whether the noise is recurrent, intermittent or constant.

12. Whether the noise is produced by a commercial or noncommercial activity.

B. Permitted Hours. The term "permitted hours" as used in the preceding subsection is defined to mean a single period of not more than two consecutive hours in any calendar day between the hours of seven a.m. and nine p.m.

C. Application of Provisions—Permits for Exceptions. The provisions of the preceding two subsections shall apply to all persons using public property, streets, places or ways for events utilizing sound amplifying equipment of any type or description, provided however, that a permit be issued authorizing noise prohibited by this section whenever it is found that the public interest will be served thereby. Applications for permits shall be in writing and shall be accompanied by an application fee in the amount of five dollars and shall set forth in detail facts showing that the public interest will be served by the issuance of such permit. Applications shall be made to the chief of police; provided however, with respect to work upon or involving the use of a public street, alley, building or other public place under the jurisdiction of the public works department, applications shall be made to the public works director. Any dissatisfied with the denial of a permit may appeal to the council.

D. Starting and Operating Motors. It is unlawful for any person within the city to start or operate, or cause to be started or operated, any gas, gasoline, kerosene, distillate, benzene, oil burning or other engine or motor within the city unless such engine or motor has a device thereunto attached, in good working order, which shall at all times be in constant operation, to prevent excess or unusual or annoying noise from the exhaust of such motor or engine.

E. Penalty for Violations. Any person violating the terms and provisions of subsection A, B, C or D of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $250 or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 30 days or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(Prior code § 14.10)

It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation owning real property or premises within the city to leave or permit to be left in place, upon such real property or premises, any sign or other advertising material or equipment which advertises any business conducted upon such property or premises or services or products sold upon such property or premises or the price or prices of such products or services for a period of more than 30 days after such business or the sale of such products has been closed or discontinued.

(Prior code § 14.10)

It is unlawful for any person to jump or dive off or from any bridge located within the city limits of the city.

(Prior code § 14.13)

The city of Susanville police department officers and community service officers, parks officials and park rangers employed within the police and administrative services department have the duty to enforce the provisions of Chapter 9.04 Offenses Generally, Section 9.04.090 of this code where the official has maintenance responsibility, and are authorized to arrest persons without a warrant whenever they have reasonable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has committed a violation of said provisions in their presence. In any case in which a person is arrested pursuant to this section and the person arrested does not demand to be taken before a magistrate, said officer or employee making the arrest shall prepare a written notice to appear and release the person on his or her promise to appear as prescribed by Chapter 5c, Title III, of Part 2 of 2 of the Penal Code of the State of California (commencing with Section 853.6).

Any person who violates this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 and/or imprisonment not to exceed six months. This chapter may also be enforced via administrative or civil actions as authorized by the municipal code.

(Ord. 14-996 § 3, 2014)