§ 13-1-24. Loitering or prowling.  


Latest version.
  • (a)

    It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to stand, assemble or loiter upon any sidewalk, street, public ground or public way in the city so as to obstruct, hinder or impede free passage upon or along same or obstruct, hinder or impede free ingress or egress to and from any place of business, institution or public building or property. No person or persons so assembled shall refuse or neglect to move or depart or give free passage after being requested to do so by the owner, lessee, tenant, manager or occupant of the premises obstructed as aforesaid or upon the order of any police officer of the city.

    (b)

    It shall be unlawful for any person to hide, wait or otherwise loiter in the vicinity of any private dwelling house, apartment building or any other place of residence with the unlawful intent to watch, gaze or look upon the occupants therein in a clandestine manner.

    (c)

    It shall be unlawful for any person to loiter in or about any toilet open to the public, for the purpose of engaging in or soliciting any lewd and lascivious or any unlawful act.

    (d)

    It shall be unlawful for any person to lodge in any building, structure or place whether public or private without the permission of the owner or person in possession or in control thereof.

    (e)

    It shall be unlawful for any person to loiter in or about any restaurant, tavern or other public building. As used in this subsection, "loiter" means to, without just cause, remain in a restaurant, tavern or public building, or to remain upon the property immediately adjacent thereto, after being asked to leave by the owner, or person entitled to possession or in control thereof, or by any police officer.

    (f)

    It shall be unlawful for any person to sleep in any public park, public square or public sidewalk area between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.

    (g)

    Any person convicted of violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a class 3 misdemeanor. (Code 1963, Sec. 23-26; Ord. No. 2481, 6/14/80, Sec. 1; Ord. No. 2743, 11/23/82, Sec. 1; Ord. No. 2826, 6/28/83, Sec. 20; Ord. No. 3017, 2/23/85, Sec. 1)