It shall be unlawful for any person to shoot off, fire or discharge any gun, pistol, revolver or any firearm of any description within the city without the written consent of the city council, expressed by a vote, specifying the place where same may be done; provided that this shall not apply to any licensed shooting gallery nor to police officers in the performance of their duty.
(1991 Code, sec. 17-46)
It shall be unlawful to discharge an air rifle or air pistol of any description that by means of compressed air, springs or any other means is capable of discharging shots, pellets or any solid object at a velocity in excess of three hundred (300) feet per second in a public place or on or across any public right-of-way or across any property line.
(1991 Code, sec. 17-47)
It shall be unlawful for any person to build or erect any barbed wire fence consisting of one (1) or more wires with barbs on them on, along or adjoining any public street, alley, or grounds within the city, or to lay any such wire or barbs on or along the top of any wooden or other fence adjoining any such street, alley, or grounds in the city, such fences being regarded as dangerous to the traveling public. The building inspector may, by special permit, allow such fences for the protection of factories and manufacturing establishments, for the husbandry of livestock, or where it is necessary for protection of public utilities or other facilities in time of war or emergency.
(Ordinance 5966 adopted 8/1/16)
(a) 
The abandonment or dangerous exposure of any icebox or refrigerator with its door in normal latching or locking condition is hereby declared to be a public nuisance and a serious menace to life because of the danger of children entering such an icebox or refrigerator, and becoming locked therein and suffocating.
(b) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to abandon or dangerously expose or cause or permit to be abandoned or dangerously exposed any icebox or refrigerator unless the door has been removed from such icebox or refrigerator or unless the latch or lock holding each door shut is dismantled or removed so that the door may be opened from within by simply pushing on it. Jamming or obstructing the lock or latch shall not be sufficient compliance herewith but the same must be removed or dismantled so that accidental latching or locking is impossible.
(c) 
For the purpose of this section, the word “abandon” shall mean the throwing away on vacant property, junk heaps, trash piles or debris accumulations of the icebox or refrigerator or any other act which at common law would constitute an abandonment of personal property. By “dangerous exposure” it is meant the placing of an icebox or refrigerator not in use in a garage, barn, outbuilding, porch, yard, lot or other portion of premises where children at play may come upon it and be attracted to it.
(d) 
The duties of this section are imposed alike on the owner of the icebox or refrigerator in abandoning it, primarily, as well as the owner or any occupant of premises where a dangerous exposure occurs. This section shall be liberally construed to effect the remedy intended and prevent loss of children’s lives.
(1991 Code, sec. 17-49)
(a) 
Definitions.
For the purposes of this section, the following terms, words, phrases and the derivations thereof shall have the meaning given herein.
(1) 
Center.
Taylor Street Gym located at 1424 West Taylor, including the structures, grounds, and parking areas.
(2) 
Minor.
A person younger than seventeen (17) years of age.
(3) 
Permanent residence.
A place where a person abides, lodges, or resides for fourteen (14) or more consecutive days.
(4) 
Premises where minors commonly gather.
A school, child-care facility, playground, public park, video arcade area, or the center.
(5) 
School.
Any public or private school that has a curriculum for kindergarten, elementary, secondary, or high school education and that exists apart from a child’s home.
(6) 
Specified sex offender.
Any person required to register as a sexual offender on the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Sex Offender Database (the "database") under chapter 62 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure for a reportable conviction or adjudication of any of the following violations:
(A) 
Indecency with a child, as described in section 21.11 of the Texas Penal Code, as amended;
(B) 
Sexual assault of a child, as described in section 22.011 of the Texas Penal Code, as amended;
(C) 
Aggravated sexual assault of a child, as described in section 22.021 of the Texas Penal Code, as amended;
(D) 
Sexual performance by a child, as described in section 43.25 of the Texas Penal Code, as amended;
(E) 
Possession or promotion of child pornography, as described in section 43.26 of the Texas Penal Code, as amended;
(F) 
Continuous sexual abuse of young child, as described in section 21.02 of the Texas Penal Code, as amended; or
(G) 
Online solicitation of a minor, as described in section 33.021 of the Texas Penal Code, as amended.
(7) 
Temporary resident.
A place where a person abides, lodges, or resides for a period of fourteen (14) or more days in the aggregate during any calendar year and which is not the person's permanent address, or a place where a person routinely abides, resides, or lodges for a period of four (4) or more consecutive or nonconsecutive days in any month and which is not the person’s permanent residence.
(b) 
It is unlawful for person who is a specified sex offender to establish a permanent residence or temporary residence within 1,500 feet of any premises where minors commonly gather.
(c) 
Evidentiary matters; measurements.
(1) 
It shall be prima facie evidence that this section applies to such a person if that person’s record appears on the database and the database indicates that the victim was a minor as defined herein.
(2) 
For the purposes of determining the minimum distance separation, the requirement shall be measured by following a straight line from the outer property line of the permanent or temporary residence to the nearest property line of the premises where children commonly gather, as described herein above, or, in the case of multiple residences on one property, measuring from the nearest property line of the premises to the nearest property line of the premises where children commonly gather, as described herein.
(3) 
A map depicting the prohibited areas shall be maintained by the city's police department. The city shall review the map at least annually for changes. Said map will be available to the public at the city's police department.
(d) 
Neither allegation nor evidence of a culpable mental state is required for the proof of an offense defined by this section.
(e) 
It is defense to prosecution that any of the following conditions apply:
(1) 
The specified sex offender established the permanent or temporary residence and has complied with all of the sex offender registration laws of the state, prior to the date of the adoption of this section;
(2) 
The specified sex offender was a minor when he or she committed the offense requiring such registration and was not convicted as an adult;
(3) 
The specified sex offender is a minor;
(4) 
The premises where children commonly gather, as specified herein within 1,500 feet of the permanent or temporary residence of the specified sex offender was opened after the person established the permanent or temporary residence and complied with all sex offender registration laws of the state; or
(5) 
The information on the database is incorrect, and, if corrected, this section would not apply to the specified sex offender.
(Ordinance 5409, adopted 9/5/06; Ordinance 6581 adopted 4/3/2023)
(a) 
Definitions.
For the purposes of this section, the following terms, words, phrases and the derivations thereof shall have the meaning given herein.
(1) 
Center. Taylor Street Gym located at 1424 West Taylor, including the structures, grounds, and parking areas.
(2) 
Loiter.
(A) 
To enter and remain in the prohibited area, whether or not the person is in a vehicle, for a time period of greater than five minutes;
(B) 
To repeatedly enter the prohibited area, whether or not the person is in a vehicle, more than two (2) times in twenty-four hours; or to be in an area without a valid legal reason for entering or remaining in the prohibited area; or
(C) 
To remain in a prohibited area after being asked to leave by a person in authority.
(3) 
Person in authority.
The chief administrative officer of the school or child-care facility, the chief administrative officer’s authorized agent, or a peace officer.
(4) 
Prohibited area.
A school, child-care facility, playground public park, video arcade area, or the center.
(5) 
School.
As any public or private school that has a curriculum for kindergarten, elementary, secondary, or high school education and that exists apart from a child’s home.
(6) 
Specified sex offender.
Any person required to register as a sexual offender under chapter 62 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure for a reportable conviction or adjudication of any of the following violations:
(A) 
Indecency with a child, as described in section 21.11 of the Texas Penal Code, as amended;
(B) 
Sexual assault of a child as described in section 22.011 of the Texas Penal Code, as amended;
(C) 
Aggravated sexual assault of a child, as described in section 22.021 of the Texas Penal Code, as amended;
(D) 
Sexual performance by a child as described in section 43.25 of the Texas Penal Code, as amended;
(E) 
possession or promotion of child pornography, as described in Section 43.26 of the Texas Penal Code, as amended;
(F) 
Continuous sexual abuse of young child, as described in section 21.02 of the Texas Penal Code, as amended; or
(G) 
Online solicitation of a minor, as described in section 33.021 of the Texas Penal Code, as amended.
(b) 
It shall be unlawful for a person who is a specified sex offender to loiter within 500 feet of a prohibited area while children under the age of seventeen (17) are present.
(c) 
Neither allegation nor evidence of a culpable mental state is required for the proof of an offense defined by this section.
(d) 
It is a defense to prosecution if the person who is a specified sex offender:
(1) 
Already resides within 500 feet of the prohibited area or is incarcerated in the prohibited area;
(2) 
Is a parent or guardian of a child in the prohibited area and a court of competent jurisdiction has not issued an order restricting the specified sex offender’s access to or presence near the child;
(3) 
Is enrolled in the school;
(4) 
Had prior written permission to be in the prohibited area from the owner or from someone with apparent authority to act for the owner; or
(5) 
Is in active transit in a motor vehicle on a public street that was a direct route between two locations at which the [person had legitimate business.]
(Ordinance 5410 adopted 9/5/06; Ordinance 6581 adopted 4/3/2023)