City of Bridgeton, MO Article VI Offenses Against Public Order

Section 205.290 Definitions. [1]

[Ord. No. 90-45 §6-100, 5-2-1990; Ord. No. 91-15 §1, 2-20-1991]

A. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in Sections 205.300 to Section 205.440, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

PRIVATE PROPERTY

Any place which at the time is not open to the public. It includes property which is owned publicly or privately.

PROPERTY OF ANOTHER

Any property in which the actor does not have a possessory interest.

PUBLIC PLACE

Any place which at the time is open to the public. It includes property which is owned publicly or privately.

SALVAGE

The extraction of material or equipment from a vacant building or property for re-use or re-sale.

B. If a building or structure is divided into separately occupied units, such units are separate premises.

[1] State Law Reference — Similar provisions, RSMo. §574.030.

Section 205.295 Salvage Operation.

[Ord. No. 91-15 §2, 2-20-1991; Ord. No. 91-37 §1, 5-1-1991]

A. No person shall perform salvage operations within the City limits of the City of Bridgeton without first having obtained written permission and a list of salvage items to be taken from the property owner. Such written permission must immediately be available and shall be presented for review upon request by any duly authorized City official or Police Officer in and for the City of Bridgeton.

B. Salvage operations shall not be performed between the hours of 6:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M.

C. It shall be the responsibility of the property owner, when granting permission for persons to perform salvage operations as set forth in Subsections (A) and (B), and as defined under Section 205.290 of this Chapter, to ensure that when salvage operators leave the property, the exterior of said building or structure remains intact and its condition is left in a secured condition that will prohibit non-forceful entry into said building or structure by the general public or by persons at large in the area of said building or structure.

Section 205.300 Peace Disturbance. [1]

[Ord. No. 90-45 §6-105, 5-2-1990; Ord. No. 93-103 §1, 11-30-1993]

A. A person commits the crime of peace disturbance if:

1. He unreasonably and knowingly disturbs or alarms another person or persons by:

a. Loud noise; or

b. Offensive language addressed in a face-to-face manner to a specific individual and uttered under circumstances which are likely to produce an immediate violent response from a reasonable recipient; or

c. Threatening to commit a felonious act against any person under circumstances which are likely to cause a reasonable person to fear that such threat may be carried out; or

d. Fighting; or

e. Creating a noxious and offensive odor.

2. He is in a public place or on private property of another without consent and purposely causes inconvenience to another person or persons by unreasonably and physically obstructing:

a. Vehicular or pedestrian traffic;

b. The free ingress or egress to or from a public or private place.

[1] State Law Reference — Similar provisions, RSMo. §574.010 (1).

Section 205.310 Disturbance of Private Peace. [1]

[Ord. No. 90-45 §6-110, 5-2-1990]

A. A person commits the offense of disturbance of private peace if he is on private property and unreasonably and purposely causes alarm to another person on the same premises by:

1. Threatening to commit a crime against any person;

2. Fighting.

[1] State Law Reference — Similar provisions, RSMo. §574.020 (1).

Section 205.320 Disturbing Lawful Assemblies.

[Ord. No. 90-45 §6-115, 5-2-1990]

A. No person shall in this City, disturb any congregation or assembly met for religious worship, any school assembled for the purpose of instruction or any assemblage of persons met for literary, political or social purposes, by:

1. Loud noise;

2. Offensive or indecent conversation which is likely to produce immediate violent response from a reasonable recipient;

3. Threatening to commit a crime against any person;

4. Fighting.

Section 205.330 Harassment. [1]

[Ord. No. 90-45 §6-120, 5-2-1990]

A. A person commits the offense of harassment if, for the purpose of frightening or disturbing another person, he:

1. Communicates in writing or by telephone a threat to commit any felony; or

2. Makes a telephone call or communicates in writing and uses language offensive to one of average sensibility; or

3. Makes a telephone call anonymously; or

4. Makes repeated telephone calls.

[1] State Law Reference — For similar provisions see RSMo. §565.090 (1).

Section 205.340 Use of Language To Incite Violence.

[Ord. No. 90-45 §6-125, 5-2-1990]

It shall be unlawful for any person to use speech or writing in such a way that has a direct tendency to incite immediate acts of violence by the person or group being addressed, on any street, alley, place of business, public building or other place in the City.

Section 205.350 Unlawful Assembly. [1]

[Ord. No. 90-45 §6-130, 5-2-1990]

A person commits the offense of unlawful assembly if he knowingly assembles with six (6) or more other persons and agrees therewith to violate any of the provisions of this Chapter, criminal laws of this State or of the United States with force or violence.

[1] State Law Reference — Similar provisions, RSMo. §574.040 (1)

Section 205.360 Rioting. [1]

[Ord. No. 90-45 §6-135, 5-2-1990]

A person commits the offense of rioting if he knowingly assembles with six (6) or more other persons and agrees therewith to violate any of the provisions of this Chapter, criminal laws of this State or of the United States with force or violence, and thereafter, while so assembled, does violate any of these laws with force or violence.

[1] State Law Reference — Similar provisions, RSMo. §574.050 (1).

Section 205.370 Refusal To Disperse. [1]

[Ord. No. 90-45 §6-140, 5-2-1990]

A person commits the offense of refusal to disperse if being present at the scene of an unlawful assembly, or at the scene of a riot, he knowingly fails or refuses to obey the lawful command of a law enforcement officer to depart from the scene of the unlawful assembly or riot.

[1] State Law Reference — Similar provisions, RSMo. §574.060 (1).

Section 205.380 (Reserved) [1]

[1] Editor's Note: Former Section 205.380, Begging, which derived from Ord. No. 90-45 §6-145, 5-2-1990, was repealed 8-17-2022 by Ord. No. 22-29.

Section 205.390 Curfew For Persons Under Seventeen.

[Ord. No. 90-45 §6-150, 5-2-1990]

A. Definitions. For the purposes of this Section, the following terms shall have the meanings given in this Subsection:

CHILD

Any person under seventeen (17) years of age.

GUARDIAN

Guardian appointed by court of competent jurisdiction.

PARENT

The natural father or mother, or the adoptive father or mother.

B. Generally. No person under the age of seventeen (17) years shall be in or upon the public streets, alleys, parks, playgrounds or other public grounds, public places and public buildings, places of amusement and entertainment, vacant lots or other unsupervised places between the hours of 11:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M. of the following day except on Fridays and Saturdays, when the hours shall be from 12:00 Midnight to 6:00 A.M.

C. Responsibility of Parent. The parent, guardian or other adult person having the care and custody of a person under the age of seventeen (17) years shall not knowingly permit such person to violate this Section.

D. Notice to Parent. Any Police Officer finding any person under the age of seventeen (17) years violating the provisions of this Section shall warn such person to desist immediately from such violation and shall promptly report the violation to his superior Officer, who shall cause a written notice to be served upon the parent, guardian or person in charge of such person, setting forth the manner in which this Section has been violated. Any parent, guardian or person in charge of such person who shall knowingly permit such person to violate the provisions of this Section, after receiving notice of the first violation, shall be guilty of an offense.

E. Service of Notice. The written notice provided in Subsection (D) may be served by leaving a copy thereof at the residence of such parent, guardian or person in charge of the person in violation of this Section, with any person found at such residence over the age of seventeen (17) years, by mailing such notice to the last-known address of such parent, guardian or person in charge of such person, wherever such person may be found.

F. Exceptions. This Section shall not apply to those persons detained while going to or coming from their place of employment, nor shall this Section apply to any person under seventeen (17) years of age who is accompanied by his parent, guardian or other adult person having the care and custody of such person, or where such person is upon an emergency errand or legitimate business directed by his parent, guardian or other adult person having the care and custody of the minor.

Section 205.400 Use of Billiard Games, Amusement Machines By Minors Restricted — Notification By Licensees — Penalties For Violations.

[Ord. No. 90-45 §6-155, 5-2-1990]

A. Definitions. For the purpose of this Section, the following terms shall have the meanings given in this Subsection:

CHILD, PARENT, GUARDIAN

As defined under Section 205.390 (A).

LICENSEE

Owner/operator, manager-employee, or employee of the premises of any billiard hall or commercial indoor amusement establishment.

B. Use by Minors Restricted. Minor children under the age of seventeen (17) years shall not play any billiard game, nor play any coin-operated amusement machine after the hour of 11:00 P.M. on Sunday through Thursday, or after the hour of 12:00 Midnight on Friday and Saturday, or before the hour of 9:00 A.M., unless accompanied by his or her parent or legal guardian. No child under seventeen (17) years of age shall play any billiard game, nor play any coin-operated amusement machine during school hours when school is in session.

C. Notification by Licensee. The licensee of any billiard hall, indoor commercial amusement center or commercial amusement location shall post and maintain the following notice in a conspicuous place on each billiard table and automatic coin-operated amusement machine. Such notice shall be in lettering no smaller than one-half (½) inch print. All posted notices shall be furnished by the licensee and shall be of permanent design. They shall not be removed or defaced and, if lost, removed or defaced shall be immediately replaced:

	NOTICE OF REGULATIONS
	It shall be unlawful for any person under seventeen (17) years of age to use this device before 9:00 A.M. or after 11:00 P.M. Sunday through Thursday, or after 12:00 Midnight Friday or Saturday, unless accompanied by parent or guardian. It shall be unlawful for any person under seventeen (17) years of age to use this device during school hours when school is in session.

D. Minor children under seventeen (17) years of age found in violation of Subsection (B) above will be dealt with by the Juvenile Division of the Bridgeton Police Department or Juvenile Court of St. Louis County, Missouri.

Section 205.410 Noises Prohibited.

[Ord. No. 90-45 §6-160, 5-2-1990; Ord. No. 92-16 §1, 4-15-1992; Ord. No. 01-43 §1, 8-1-2001]

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to make any excessive, unnecessary or unusually loud noise which either damages, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, health, peace or safety of others within the City of Bridgeton. The following acts, among others, are declared to be loud, disturbing and unnecessary noises in violation of this Section, but said enumeration shall not be deemed to be exclusive, namely:

1. The using, operating, or permitting to be played, used or operated, any radio receiving set, musical instrument, phonograph, or other machine or device which violates the peace, quiet and comfort of the neighboring inhabitants at any time with louder volume than is necessary for convenient hearing for the person or persons who are in the room, vehicle or chamber in which such machine or device is operated and who are voluntary listeners thereto. The operation of any such set, instrument, phonograph, machine or device between the hours of 11:00 P.M. and 8:00 A.M. in such manner as to be plainly audible at a distance of fifty (50) feet from the building, structure or vehicle in which it is located shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this Section.

2. The using, operating or permitting to be played, used, or operated of any radio receiving set, musical instrument, phonograph, loud speaker, sound amplifier, or other machine or device for the providing or reproducing of sound for the purpose of commercial advertising or attracting the attention of the public to any building or structure.

3. Yelling, shouting, whistling or singing, particularly between the hours of 11:00 P.M. and 8:00 A.M. or at any time or place so as to annoy or disturb the quiet or comfort of persons in any office, dwelling, hotel, residence or any other persons in the vicinity.

4. The use of any automobile, motorcycle, or vehicle so out of repair as to create loud and unnecessary grating, scraping, grinding, rattling or other noise.

5. Upon passage and approval and for a period not to exceed September 30, 2002. The hours noted in Subsection (1) of this Section shall be changed to read 11:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M. solely for the purpose of operating machines or devices commonly used in the repair and remodeling of residential and commercial buildings.

Section 205.420 Fortunetelling, Etc. Prohibited — Exception.

[Ord. No. 90-45 §6-165, 5-2-1990]

A. No person shall pursue or practice within the City the avocation, profession or art of fortuneteller, clairvoyant, spirit medium, necromancer, seer, astrologist, palmist, prophet or other like crafty or occult art or art of divination, or pretended art of telling past events of another's life or affairs; or in anyway revealing things of the past or the future of a secret or hidden nature; of giving advice or assistance in matters of business or affairs of any other kind or nature by means of such art; or of purporting so to tell, foretell, reveal or give advice or assistance by means of such art. Any person who shall so pursue or practice within the City such avocations or professions, or any of them, whether for a price or gratuity, and whether by offer or upon request, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor; and the maintenance, display, posting or advertisement, or the causing to be maintained, displayed, posted or advertised, of any sign, card, bill or announcement of any kind whatever indicating the pursuit or practice of any such avocation; profession or art aforesaid or indicating an offer to render service in such pursuit or practice shall, upon proof thereof, be sufficient evidence against the person so maintaining, displaying, posting or advertising, or so causing the same to be done, and so charged, of a violation of this Section.

B. Nothing contained in this Section shall be held or construed to violate, limit or impair the religious liberty of any person. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any person engaging in the practice of teaching astrology.

Section 205.430 False Fire Alarm. [1]

[Ord. No. 90-45 §6-170, 5-2-1990]

It shall be unlawful for any person to turn in a false fire alarm or cause the same to be done.

[1] State Law Reference — False report of fire, RSMo. §564.535

Section 205.440 False 911 Emergency Calls.

[Ord. No. 90-45 §6-175, 5-2-1990; Ord. No. 97-71 §1, 10-1-1997]

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to complete an emergency 911 telephone call as a nuisance, or to falsely report an emergency or cause the same to be done.

B. In accordance with Section 190.308, RSMo., as hereinafter may be amended, it shall be unlawful for any person to misuse the emergency telephone service. For the purposes of this Section, "emergency" means any incident involving danger to life or property that calls for an emergency response dispatch of Police, fire, EMS, or other public safety organization; "misuse of the emergency telephone service" includes, but is not limited to repeatedly calling "911" for non-emergency situations, causing operators or equipment to be in use when emergency situations may need such operators or equipment and "repeatedly" means three (3) or more times within a one (1) month period.

Section 205.445 Garage or Other Sales On Residential Premises. [1]

[Ord. No. 93-22 §1, 3-17-1993; Ord. No. 94-28 §1, 5-4-1994]

A. All so-called "garage sales" or other sales involving the offering for sale of multiple items of personal property on property zoned and occupied as "residential" shall be subject to the following rules and regulations:

1. No person shall accept or take in for sale any goods from any commercial business or enterprise on a consignment basis.

2. Not more than four (4) such sales per year shall be held at the premises if occupied by the same family or any member of such family.

3. Any sale conducted pursuant to the provisions hereof shall not extend in excess of two (2) days.

4. Garage sale signs can only be displayed in accordance with Section 515.070 Subsection 7 as set forth in the Code of Ordinances for the City of Bridgeton, Missouri.

B. A permit must be obtained from the City to conduct such sales. There shall be no charge or fee for the permit. The permit shall be displayed and available for inspection by the City.

C. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to or affect persons selling goods pursuant to an order of process of a court of competent jurisdiction or persons acting in accordance with their power and duties as public officials or in the capacity of auctioneers at a public sale.

[1] Editor's Note — This Section is effective July 1, 1993.