Ventura Municipal Code Ch. 10.200 Lying and Sitting on Sidewalks and Other Public Ways and Places 4

4 Cross reference(s): Streets and other public ways and places, Title 18; public parks, beaches and street trees, Title 20.

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

“Obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic” means to walk, stand, place an object, sit or lie in such a manner as to block passage by another person or a vehicle, or to require another person or a driver of a vehicle to take evasive action to avoid physical contact.

“Public place” means any area generally visible to public view and includes alleys, bridges, buildings, driveways, parking lots, parks, plazas, sidewalks, and streets open to the general public, including those that serve food or drink or provide entertainment, and the doorways and entrances to buildings or dwellings and the grounds enclosing them. (Code 1971, § 61010)

It shall be unlawful for a person in a public place to intentionally obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic. (Code 1971, § 61011)

A. Unlawful. It shall be unlawful for any person to sit or lie down upon a public sidewalk, sidewalk curb, biking-walking path, or doorways and entrances to buildings or dwellings; or to sit or lie down upon a blanket, chair, stool, or any other object placed upon a public sidewalk, sidewalk curb, biking-walking path, or doorways and entrances to buildings or dwellings in the following zones:

1. The downtown area which is bounded by the Ventura River to the west, the Pacific Ocean to the south, Poli Street to the north, and Crimea Street to Meta, Hemlock from Meta to Thompson Boulevard, and San Jon Road to the east.

2. The Ventura Avenue Area which is Ventura Avenue from Main Street north to Stanley Avenue.

3. C-T-O, commercial tourist oriented zones; TO, tourist oriented overlay zones; C-2, commercial zones; P, parks; and H-C harbor commercial zones.

B. Notice. No person shall be cited under subsection A of this section unless the person engages in conduct prohibited by said subsection after having been notified by a law enforcement officer that the conduct violates subsection A of this section. (Code 1971, § 61012)

A. Sections 10.200.020 and 10.200.030 shall not apply in the following cases and to the following persons:

1. Persons standing or sitting on the curb or portion of any sidewalk or street while attending or viewing any parade, festival, performance or similar event permitted under the provisions of this code;

2. Persons sitting upon benches or other seating facilities provided or authorized for such purposes by municipal authorities;

3. Any conduct which is in conformity with the terms of any permit granted pursuant to this code;

4. Any conduct in public places that are privately owned where such conduct is in conformity with permission granted by the owner of said premises or by the person entitled to the possession of said premises;

5. Persons sitting or lying down due to a medical emergency;

6. Persons whom, as the result of a disability, utilize wheelchair or similar device to move about; and

7. Any conduct which is in conformity with the provisions of standards for outdoor dining uses in the public right-of-way pursuant to this code.

B. It is not the intent of this chapter to prohibit protesting, picketing, demonstrating, leafleting, or any other lawful activity permitted under the laws of the state of California or by the National Labor Relations Act in connection with a labor dispute. (Code 1971, § 61013)

It shall be unlawful for any person to urinate or defecate in any public place except when using a urinal, toilet or commode located in a bathroom, restroom or other structure enclosed from public view. (Code 1971, § 61014)