[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of
Souderton 6-3-1991 by Ord. No.
561 (Ch. 67 of the 1972 Code). Amendments noted
where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to provide regulations and permit
requirements for the conduct of parades or similar events requiring
the closing of public streets and detouring of motor vehicles within
the Borough of Souderton.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The Chief of Police of the Borough of Souderton.
The Borough of Souderton.
Any parade, march, ceremony, show, exhibition, pageant or
procession of any kind, or any similar display, in or upon any street,
park or other public place in the Borough of Souderton.
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company or organization of any kind.
Any local organization headquartered within the Souderton
Area School District for a period not less than five years.
A.
No person shall engage in, participate in, aid, form or start any
parade without obtaining a permit from the Chief of Police.
B.
Exceptions. This chapter shall not apply to:
(1)
Funeral processions.
(2)
Students going to and from school classes or participating in educational
activities, provided that such conduct is under the immediate direction
and supervision of the proper school authorities.
(3)
A governmental agency acting within the scope of its functions or
an event that receives sponsorship by the Borough of Souderton.
A person seeking issuance of a parade permit shall file an application
with the Chief of Police on forms provided by the Borough of Souderton.
A.
Filing period. An application for a parade permit shall be filed
with the Chief of Police not less than 60 days before the date of
the proposed event.
B.
Sponsorship. All applications for a parade permit within the Borough
of Souderton must be sponsored by a local organization headquartered
within the Souderton Area School District. No consideration will be
given to a parade permit application that does not have a sponsoring
organization. The sponsoring organization shall be required to submit
evidence of liability insurance in an amount acceptable to Souderton
Borough Council.
C.
Review procedure. All applications will be referred to the Administrative
Committee of Souderton Borough Council for final approval prior to
the issuance of a permit by the Chief of Police.
D.
Fees. There shall be an application filing fee as set by resolution
of the Borough Council which is nonrefundable. The permit holder shall
be responsible for all additional police services as may be deemed
necessary by the Borough of Souderton to facilitate the event and
promote public safety. The permit holder shall also be responsible
for costs incurred by the Borough in placing detour routes, barricades,
trash removal and other such services.[1]
The Administrative Committee shall direct the Chief of Police
to issue a permit as provided for hereunder when, from a consideration
of the application and from such other information as may otherwise
be obtained, the Administrative Committee concludes that:
A.
The conduct of the parade will not substantially interrupt the safe
and orderly movement of other traffic contiguous to its route.
B.
The conduct of the parade will not require the diversion of so great
a number of police officers of the Borough to properly police the
line of movement and the areas contiguous thereto as to prevent normal
police protection to the Borough.
C.
The concentration of persons, animals and vehicles at assembly points
of the parade will not unduly interfere with proper fire and police
protection of, or ambulance service to, areas contiguous to such assembly
areas.
D.
The conduct of such parade will not interfere with the movement of
fire-fighting equipment en route to a fire.
E.
The conduct of the parade is not reasonably likely to cause injury
to persons or property, to provoke disorderly conduct or create a
disturbance.
F.
The parade is scheduled to move from its point of origin to its point
of termination expeditiously and without unreasonable delays en route.
G.
The parade is not to be held for the sole purpose of advertising
any product, goods or event, and is not designed to be held purely
for private profit.
The Administrative Committee shall act upon the application
for a parade permit within 30 days after the filing thereof. If the
Committee rejects the application, a written notice stating the reasons
for denial of the permit will be sent to the applicant.
Any person aggrieved shall have the right to appeal the denial
of a parade permit to the Borough Council. The appeal shall be taken
within 15 days after notice. The Borough Council shall act upon the
appeal within 30 days after its receipt.
A.
Interference. No person shall unreasonably hamper, obstruct or impede
or interfere with any parade or parade assembly or with any person,
vehicle or animal participating or used in a parade.
B.
Driving through parades. No driver of a vehicle shall drive between
the vehicles or persons comprising a parade when such vehicles or
persons are in motion and are conspicuously designated as a parade.
C.
Parking on parade route. The Chief of Police shall have the authority,
when reasonably necessary, to prohibit or restrict the parking of
vehicles along a highway or part thereof constituting a part of the
route of a parade. The Chief of Police shall post signs to such effect,
and it shall be unlawful for any person to park or leave unattended
any vehicle in violation thereof. No person shall be liable for parking
on a street not posted in violation of this chapter.
D.
No candy, coupons or other goods shall be thrown to parade spectators
from any motorized vehicle participating in the parade. Such candy,
coupons or other goods shall only be distributed by hand along the
curbline of the street.
The Chief of Police shall have the authority to revoke a parade
permit issued hereunder upon application of the standards for issuance
as herein set forth.
Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall,
upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than
$1,000 and/or to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days.
