[Adopted 2-25-2016 by Ord. No. 1726]
For the purpose of this article, the following words shall have
the meanings herein indicated:
Any place within the City where persons congregate, gather
or abide for any licentious or unlawful purposes, or where persons
of known bad habits or reputation are permitted or allowed to congregate,
gather or remain, or where any unlawful or licentious act is committed
with the consent or knowledge of the owner, proprietor or person in
charge, whether the place is public or private and whether the unlawful
or licentious act is committed in a building, in the open or on any
lot or land in the City. All such places are hereby declared to be
a public nuisance. "Disorderly house" includes all places where licentiousness
or prostitution is practiced or where gambling is permitted or carried
on or where intoxicating liquors are kept, manufactured, sold or dispensed
illegally, where illegal drugs are kept, grown, manufactured, dispensed,
sold or used, or where other illegal activities are permitted.
[Amended 7-26-2018 by Ord. No. 1765]
Any person, not the keeper, who lives and abides in such
a disorderly house or is employed at or frequents regularly such house,
lot or other place.
Any person who, being the owner, lessee, licensee, tenant,
occupier or person in charge at the time of any such house, lot or
other place, permits or allows such place to be used for any unlawful
or licentious purpose.
Any person who, knowing the character of such disorderly
house, is found in or upon such house, lot or other place. All persons
found therein shall be presumed to have knowledge of the unlawful
character of such place and be guilty of assisting in the perpetuation
and maintenance of the disorderly house. However, all persons found
in such disorderly house may, by competent evidence, show their lack
of knowledge of the character of the place or that they were there
innocently and without lawful purpose, if such is the case.
No person shall keep or maintain any disorderly house within
the City. Any person who is found in any disorderly house, whether
as keeper, inmate or visitor, shall be subject to the penalties of
this article. All such persons shall be subject to arrest, either
with or without a warrant, and upon conviction may be sentenced or
imprisoned as provided in the PA Crimes Code.
It shall be the duty of police officers of the City to suppress
and close and keep closed all disorderly houses and to arrest all
persons found therein. If the keeper or any other person within such
disorderly house refuses to permit any officer of the City to enter
the same, the officer may enter the disorderly house or cause the
same to be entered by whatever force necessary, by breaking the doors
or otherwise, and to arrest, with or without a warrant, all persons
found therein.
If any person shall hinder, obstruct or resist any officer in
the performance of his duty as herein authorized to be performed by
him, the person so hindering, obstructing or resisting such officer
shall, on conviction thereof, be fined or imprisoned as provided in
the PA Crimes Code.
Any person violating any provision of this article shall be
fined not more than $300 and/or imprisoned for a term not to exceed
90 days. In default of payment thereof, said person shall be imprisoned
for not more than 90 days.
