Village of Richfield, WI Article I General Regulations

§ 275-1 Offenses against state laws subject to forfeiture. [1]

The following statutes defining offenses against the peace and good order of the state are adopted by reference to define offenses against the peace and good order of the Village, provided that the penalty for the commission of such offenses shall be limited to a forfeiture imposed under § 1-3 of this Code.

§ 86.06	Highways closed to travel
§ 86.192	Penalty for injuring guide board, markers, etc.
§ 101.123	Smoking prohibited
§ 134.66	Restrictions on sale or gift of cigarettes or nicotine or tobacco products
§ 167.10	Regulation of fireworks
§ 173.10	Investigation of cruelty complaints
§ 175.25	Storage of junked automobiles
§ 254.76	Causing fires by tobacco smoking
§ 254.92	Purchase or possession of cigarettes or tobacco products by person under 18 prohibited
§ 256.35	Statewide emergency services number
§ 285.30(2)	Motor vehicle emissions limitations; inspections
§ 346.935	Intoxicants in motor vehicles
Chapter 905	Evidence – Privileges
Chapters 938 through 948	Juvenile Justice Code; Criminal Code
§§ 951.571 through 961.577	Drug paraphernalia
Chapter 990	Construction of Statutes

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).

§ 275-2 Violations and penalties. [1]

Except as otherwise provided in this Chapter 275, each violation of any provision of this chapter shall be subject to the penalties and remedies described in § 1-3 of this Code. In addition to any penalty imposed for violation of § 943.01(1), Wis. Stats., any person who shall cause physical damage to or destroy any public property shall be liable for the costs of replacing or repairing such damaged or destroyed property. A parent of any unemancipated minor child who violates § 943.01(1), Wis. Stats., may also be held liable for the cost of repairing such damaged or destroyed property in accordance with § 895.035, Wis. Stats.

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).

§ 275-3 Open cisterns, wells, basements or other dangerous excavations.

No person shall have or permit on any premises owned or occupied by him or her any open cisterns, cesspools, wells, unused basements, excavations, or other dangerous openings. All such places shall be filled, securely covered, or fastened in such manner as to prevent injury to any person, and any cover shall be of a design, size, and weight that the cover cannot be removed by small children.

§ 275-4 Abandoned or unattended iceboxes or other airtight containers.

No person shall leave or permit to remain outside of any dwelling, building or other structure, or within any unoccupied or abandoned building, dwelling or other structure under his control in a place accessible to children, any abandoned, unattended or discarded icebox, refrigerator or other container which has an airtight door or lid, snap lock, or other locking device which may not be released from the inside, without first removing such door or lid, snap lock or other locking device from such icebox, refrigerator, or container unless such container is displayed for sale on the premises of the owner or his agent and is securely locked or fastened.

§ 275-5 Damage to Village property.

No person shall intentionally cause damage to any physical property of the Village.

§ 275-6 Graffiti.

A. Definitions. The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

GRAFFITI

Any writings, drawings, inscriptions, figures or marks of paint, ink, dye, chalk, or other similar substances on public or private buildings, structures or places that are not expressly authorized by the property owner or occupant or that are not otherwise permitted by law. For the purposes of this section, "graffiti" includes any form of writings, drawings, inscriptions, figures or marks, regardless of their content or the nature of materials used in their placement.

B. Declared a nuisance. Graffiti is specifically declared to be a public nuisance, as defined in § 263-2 of this Code.

C. Prohibited acts. No person shall write, spray, scratch, or otherwise affix graffiti upon any property, whether private or public, without the consent of the owner of such property. Any person who shall affix graffiti to any property without the consent of the owner shall be liable for removing or covering such graffiti in addition to any forfeiture imposed for violating this section. The parents of any unemancipated minor child who affixed graffiti may be held liable for the cost of removing or covering such graffiti in accordance with § 895.035, Wis. Stats. This subsection shall not be construed to prohibit the placement on public or private streets, sidewalks, or other paved surfaces of temporary and easily removable chalk or other water soluble markings incident to lawful youth activities or other lawful business or activity.

D. Notification of Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy or Village law enforcement officer. Every owner or occupant of a structure or property defaced by graffiti shall notify the County Sheriff’s Deputy or Village law enforcement officer of the graffiti before removing or covering such graffiti.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).

E. Removal by owner.

(1) Every owner of a structure or property defaced by graffiti shall comply with the terms of a written notice served upon him or her by the Village to remove or cover such graffiti within 10 days.

(2) If any owner fails to comply with the notice mentioned in Subsection E(1) of this section within 10 days, the Village shall have the graffiti covered or removed and all costs, fees and expenses shall be charged to the real estate taxes pursuant to § 66.0627, Wis. Stats.

§ 275-7 Littering.

No other person shall deposit any mud, glass, refuse or waste, filth, or other litter upon the streets, highways, alleys, parks, or other property of the Village or upon any private property or into or upon any body of water or stream within the Village. Any person found guilty of violating this section shall be subject to a forfeiture of not more than $200, plus the cost of prosecution and cleanup. Each day a violation continues shall constitute a separate violation.

§ 275-8 Loud and unnecessary noise.

A. Generally. No person shall make or cause to be made any loud, disturbing, or unnecessary sounds or noises such as may tend to annoy or disturb a person of ordinary sensibilities in or about any public street or park or any private residence or business.

B. Public address systems and amplifiers. No person shall use or operate any public address (PA) system, amplifier, or device which increases the volume of voice, music, or other sounds so loud as to disturb the public peace or the quiet and peacefulness of the neighborhood.

C. Compression brakes prohibited.

(1) Definition. A compression brake, commonly referred to as a "Jacobs brake," "Jake brake®," "engine brake" or "dynamic braking device," means a device primarily on trucks for the conversion of the engine from an internal combustion engine to an air compressor for the purpose of braking without the use of or in addition to wheel brakes.

(2) Use prohibited. No person shall use a motor vehicle within the Village limits where the compression brake is in any way engaged or activated on such motor vehicle or any unit or part thereof, except for the aversion of imminent danger.

§ 275-9 Loitering.

A. Prowling. No person shall loiter or prowl in a place, at a time or in a manner not usual for law abiding individuals under circumstances that warrant alarm for the safety of persons or property in the vicinity. Among the circumstances which may be considered in determining whether such alarm is warranted is the fact that the person takes flight upon appearance of a law enforcement or peace officer, refuses to identify him or herself or manifestly endeavors to conceal him or herself or any object. Unless flight by the person or other circumstances make it impracticable, a law enforcement or peace officer shall, prior to any arrest for an offense under this section, afford the person an opportunity to dispel any alarm which would otherwise be warranted by requesting him or her to identify him or herself and explain his presence and conduct. No person shall be convicted of an offense under this subsection if the law enforcement or peace officer did not comply with the preceding sentence, or if it appears at trial that the explanation given by the person was true and, if believed by the law enforcement or peace officer at the time, would have dispelled the alarm.

B. Obstruction of highway. No person shall obstruct any street, bridge, sidewalk, or crossing by lounging or loitering in or upon the same after being requested to move on by any law enforcement officer.

C. Obstruction of traffic. No person shall loaf or loiter in groups or crowds upon the public highways, streets, sidewalks, or bridges or in any other public place within the Village in such manner as to prevent, interfere with, or obstruct the ordinary free use of such public highways, streets, sidewalks, and bridges or other public places by persons passing along and over the same.

D. After being requested to move. No person shall loaf or loiter in groups or crowds upon the public streets, sidewalks or adjacent doorways or entrances, or in any other public place or on any private premises without invitation from the owner or occupant after being requested to move by any law enforcement officer or by any person in authority at such places.

E. In or on school property. No person not in official attendance or on official school business shall enter into, congregate, loiter, wander, stroll, stand, or play in or on any school property within the Village.