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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995 Ordinance No. 031• ORDINANCE NO . ,3L_ SERIES OF 1995 BY AUTHORITY COUNCIL BILL NO . 33 INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HATHAWAY AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 7, CHAPI'ER 6B, SECTION 6, OF THE ENGLEWOOD MUNICIPAL CODE 1985 REGARDING OBSTRUCTING HIGHWAYS AND PUBLIC PASSAGES . WHEREAS, the sales transactions prohibited by this Ordinance pose substantial dangers to the motoring public and to the hawkers; and WHEREAS , solicitation not only affects the parties directly involv ed in the transaction , it also increaaes traffic hazards at more remo te location•; and WHEREAS, hawking activity adds another element to traffic that distracts drivers; and WHEREAS , although the hawkers are instructed abo ut safety and proper sales technique s, the hawkers do not consi stently adhere to those ~rocedures ; and WHEREAS, the City need not wait for misfortune to strike to demonstrate a need for the Ordinance; and WHEREAS, the Ordinance addresses legitimate governmental interests; and WHEREAS, ample alternatives to solicitation on the median currently exist and this Ordinance does not endanger the ability to express idem : ,ind WHEREAS, this Ordinance complies with the Colorado Supreme Court decision in Denver J>ubHsbinr Comnonv v City of Aurora 19 B.T.R 804 (C olo . 1995): NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO, AS FOLLOWS: ~-The Englewood City Council hereby amends Title 7, Chapter 6B , Section 6, by adding a new Paragraph D, of the Englewood Municipal Code, 1985 which shall read as follows: 7-6 B..S : OBSTRUCTING HIGHWAYS AND PUBUC PASSAGES : A. An individual or corporation commits an offen se if without legal privilege h e intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly: 1. Obstructs a highway, street, sidewalk, mall , railway, waterway, building entrance, elevator, aisle, stairway, or hallway to which the public or a substantial group of the public has access or any other place used for the passage of persons, vehicles , or conveyances, whether the obstruction arises from hi s acts alone or from his acts and the acts of other$; or .j . 2. Disobeys a reasonable request or order to move issued by a person he knows to be a peace officer, a fireman, or a person with authority to control the use of th e premises, to prevent obstruction ofa street or passageway or to mai ntain public safety by dispersing those gathered in dangerous proximity to a fire, riot, or othe r hazard . B. For purpo ses of th is Section, "obs truct" mean s to re nd er impa ss abl e or to re nde r passage unreaso nably inconvenient or hazardous . C. It shall be unla wful for any person engaged in the sale of newspapers, magazines or other goods or merchandise, to make any unnecesaary sound or noi se, to ob struct ony sidewalk or other public place, or disturb or impede others. (Ord. 65 Serie s 1986) D. SOLICITATION ON OR NEAR STRT;ET OR HIGHWAY . I. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PARAGRAPH IS TO PREVENT DANGERS TO PERSONS AN D PROPERTY, TO PREVENT DELAYS , AND TO AVOID INTERFERENCE WITH THE TRAFFIC FLOW. ROADWAYS THAT HAVE CENTER MEDIANS OFI'EN ARE DESIGNED TO DEAL WITH SPEClFIC TRAFFIC FLOW PROBLEMS . ANY DELAY OR DISTRACTION MAY INTERFERE WITH TRAFFIC PLANNING. SOMETIMES PERSONS STAND NEAR INTERSECTIONS AND NEAR TRAFFIC LIGHTS TO CONTACT DRIVERS OR PASSENGERS IN CARS THAT ARE PASSI NG OR THAT ARE STOPPED TEMPORARILY DUE TO TRAFFIC LIGHTS . '<. IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON TO SOLICIT EMPLOYMENT , BUSINESS, CONTRIBUTIONS, OR SALES OF ANY KIND , OR COLLECT MONIE.'l FOR THE SAME, FROM THE OC C UPANT OF ANY VEHICLE T l'AVELING UPON ANY STREET OR HIGHWAY WHEN SUCH SOLIC ITATION OR COLLECTION : A. CAUSES THE PERSON PERFORMING THE ACTMTY TO ENTER ONTO THE TRAVELE L' PORTION OF A STREET OR HIGHWAY. B. INVOLVES THE PERSON PERFORMING THE ACTIVITY TO BE LOCATED UPO N ANY MEDIAN OR ISLAND AREA WHICH SEPA!\ATES TRAFFIC LANES . C. THE PE RS ON PERFORMING THE ACT IVITY IS LOCATED, SUCH THAT VEHICLES CANNOT MOVE NTO A LEGAL PARIGN G AREA TO SAFELY COND UCT THE TRAN SACTION. -2- • • • • 3 . IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON TO SOLICIT OR A'ITEMPI' TO SOLICIT EMPLOYMENT, BUSINESS, OR CONTRIBUTIONS OF ANY KIND FROM THE OCCUPANT OF ANY VEHICLE ON ANY HIGHWAY INCLUDED IN THE STATE SYSTEM INCLUDING ANY ENTRANCE TO OR EXIT FROM SUCH HIGHWAY. 4 . FOR PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH , THE TRAVELED PORTION OF THE STREET OR HIGHWAY SHALL MEAN THAT PORTION OF THE ROAD NORMALLY US ED BY MOVING MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC. ~-If any section , paragraph , clause, or othe r port:.on of thi ::-ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unenforceable, th,-invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any of the remaining portions of this ordinn r.ce. ~-The General Penalty Provi sion of E .M.C . 1-4-1 , shall apply to each and ev ery violation of this Section . Introduced, read in full, and passed on first reading on the 19th day of June, 1995. Published as a Bill for an Ordinance on the 22nd dar of June, 1995. Read by title and passed on final reading on the 3rd day of July, 1995 . Published by title as Ordinance No. 3( Series of 1995, on the 6th day of July, 1995. I, Loucrishia A. Ellis, City Clerk of th e City of Englewood, Co lorado, hereby certit.· that the above and foregoing is a true copy,f>fthe Ordinance passed on final r eading and published by title as Ordinance No.~. Series of 19 . -3 - • • Date June 19, 1995 INITIATED BY COUNCIL COMM• NICATION Ag ~n da Item 10 a i f i Subject Approval of Oniina nce Bann ing Stree t Hawkers Depa11111ent of Public Works I STAFF SOURCE Charles Esterly , Dlrec ,or of Public Works COUNCIL GOAL AND PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION To ,mprcv e th e safe ty of moto rists and hawkers in med ian and island areas on major roadways. No prev io us Counci l Actio n has bee n t ~ken. RE COMMEN DED ACTION App=·,_,; a L'i fo ,· an Ord inance wtioch woul d ban sales tra nsa ction s on highways and pu blic roadways ,n th e City ut £:~,;i..-N<>.;;l BACKGROUND, ANALYSIS, AND ALTERNATIVES IDENTIFIED The City of Englewood is concerned with th e existence of substantial dangers posed to the motoring pub lic and to hawkers of newspapers on median and isla nd areas of roadways in the City of Englewood . The presence of hawker:: at interseclions in the City creams ;; 1istraction to motorists, delay s in traffic mov91T\en~ and a hazard to the hawken the mselve s. It is reco mmend ed that th is activity be banned in the City of Englewood in order to elim in ate th ese poten tial hazards . FINANCIAL IMPACT Non e. LIST OF ATTACHMENTS Bill for an Ord inan ce