[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Lacey 9-21-1979 as Ord. No. 25-79 (Ch. 77B of the 1974 Code); amended in its entirety at time of adoption of Code 7-11-1996 by Ord. No. 96-36. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 323.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Parade Ordinance of the Township of Lacey."
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BLOCK PARTY
Any organized party to be participated in by a portion of or all residences located on the same street block for which a portion or all of the actual road which constitutes the street shall be used and occupied for party purposes.
PARADE
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 township.
PERSON
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind.
A. 
No person shall engage in, participate in, aid, form or start any parade or block party unless a parade or block party permit shall have been obtained 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.
A. 
A person seeking issuance of a parade or block party permit shall file an application with the Chief of Police on forms provided by the Chief of Police.
B. 
Filing period. An application for a parade or block party permit shall be filed with the Chief of Police not less than thirty (30) days before the date on which it is proposed to conduct the parade or block party.
C. 
Contents of application for a parade permit. The application for a parade permit shall set forth the following information:
(1) 
The name, address and telephone number of the person seeking to conduct such parade.
(2) 
If the parade is proposed to be conducted for, on behalf of or by an organization, the name, address and telephone number of the headquarters of the organization and of the authorized and responsible heads of such organization.
(3) 
The name, address and telephone number of the person who will be the Parade Chairman and who will be responsible for its conduct.
(4) 
The date on which the parade is to be conducted.
(5) 
The route to be traveled, the starting point and the termination point.
(6) 
The approximate number of persons who, and animals and vehicles which, will constitute such parade; the type of animals; and a description of the vehicles.
(7) 
The times at which such parade will start and terminate.
(8) 
A statement as to whether the parade will occupy all or only a portion of the width of the streets proposed to be traversed.
(9) 
The location by streets of any assembly areas for such parade.
(10) 
The time at which units of the parade will begin to assemble at such assembly area or areas.
(11) 
The interval of space to be maintained between units of such parade.
(12) 
If the parade is designed to be held by and on behalf of or for any person other than the applicant, the applicant for such permit shall file with the Chief of Police a communication, in writing, from the person proposing to hold the parade authorizing the applicant to apply for the permit on his behalf.
(13) 
Any additional information which the Chief of Police shall find reasonably necessary to a fair determination as to whether a permit should issue.
D. 
Contents of application for a block party permit. The application for a block party permit shall set forth the following information:
(1) 
The name, address and telephone number of the person or persons seeking to conduct such block party.
(2) 
The name, address and telephone number of a person who can be contacted as the Party Chairman and who will serve as liaison between the Chief of Police and the participants in the block party.
(3) 
The date on which the block party is to be conducted.
(4) 
The street on which the party is to be held and the names of any cross streets which shall be affected should the block party extend past the length of one (1) street block.
(5) 
The approximate number of persons and the exact number of street residences, including street and number addresses, who will be participating in the block party.
(6) 
The times at which such block party will start and terminate.
(7) 
Any additional information which the Chief of Police shall find reasonably necessary to a fair determination as to whether a permit should issue.
E. 
Late applications. The Chief of Police, where good cause is shown therefor, shall have the authority to consider any application hereunder which is filed less than thirty (30) days before the date such parade or block party is proposed to be conducted.
The Chief of Police shall issue a permit as provided for hereunder when, from a consideration of the application and from such other information as may otherwise be obtained, he or she finds 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 township to properly police the line of movement of the parade and of contiguous areas that adequate police protection cannot be provided to the remainder of the township.
C. 
The conduct of the parade will not require the diversion of so great a number of ambulances that adequate ambulance service to portions of the township not occupied by the parade and contiguous areas will be prevented.
D. 
The concentration of persons, animals and vehicles at assembly points of the parade will not substantially interfere with adequate fire and police protection of or ambulance service to areas contiguous to such assembly areas.
E. 
The conduct of the parade will not be likely to result in violence to persons or property causing serious harm to the public.
F. 
The parade is not to be held for the primary purpose of advertising a product, good or event and is not designed to be held primarily for private profit.
G. 
The conduct of the parade will not interfere with the movement of fire-fighting equipment to such an extent that adequate fire protection cannot be provided to the township.
In addition to those procedures set forth in this chapter for the issuance of a block party permit, a block party permit shall be subject to the provisions and procedures provided in Chapter 323, Vehicles and Traffic, of the Township Code of the Township of Lacey for the closing of municipal streets. Any permit issuance shall be contingent upon the Mayor's providing for the closing of the street or streets which are the subject of the block party application, all to be determined in accordance with Chapter 323. The Chief of Police shall issue a permit as provided for hereunder when, from a consideration of the application and from such other information as may otherwise be obtained, including mayoral approval of any necessary street closings, he or she finds that:
A. 
The conduct and location of the block party will not substantially interrupt or impede the safe and orderly movement of traffic.
B. 
The conduct of the block party will not be likely to result in damage to persons or property nor cause serious harm to the public.
C. 
The conduct of the block party will not interfere with the movement of fire-fighting equipment to such an extent that adequate fire protection cannot be provided to the township.
If the Chief of Police disapproves the application, he or she shall mail or have served upon the applicant, within five (5) days after the date upon which the application was filed, a notice of his or her action stating the reasons for his or her denial of the permit.
The Chief of Police, in denying an application for a parade or block party permit, shall be empowered to authorize the conduct of the parade or block party on a date, at a time or over a route or according to boundaries different from that named by the applicant. An applicant desiring to accept an alternate permit shall, within five (5) days after notice of the action of the Chief of Police, file a written notice of acceptance with the Chief of Police. An alternate parade or block party permit shall conform to the requirements of, and shall have the effect of, a parade or block party permit under this chapter.
Immediately upon the issuance of a parade or block party permit, the Chief of Police shall send a copy thereof to the following:
A. 
The Mayor.
B. 
The Director/Superintendent of Public Works.
C. 
The Fire Chief of the area or areas where the parade or block party shall be conducted.
Each parade permit shall state the following information:
A. 
The starting time.
B. 
The minimum speed.
C. 
The maximum speed.
D. 
The maximum interval of space to be maintained between the units of the parade.
E. 
The portions of the streets to be traversed that may be occupied by the parade.
F. 
The maximum length of the parade in miles, or fractions thereof.
G. 
Such other information as the Chief of Police shall find necessary to the enforcement of this chapter.
Each block party permit shall state the following information:
A. 
The starting time of the party.
B. 
The ending time of the party.
C. 
The portions of the streets to be occupied by the block party, including cross streets. The same shall indicate exact building numbers from which the block party area shall begin and at which point the block party area shall end.
D. 
Such other information as the Chief of Police shall find necessary to the enforcement of this chapter.
A permittee hereunder shall comply with all permit directions and conditions and with all applicable laws and ordinances.
The Parade or Block Party Chairman or other person heading or leading such activity shall carry the parade or block party permit upon his or her person during the conduct of the parade or block party.
A. 
Interference. No person shall unreasonably hamper, obstruct, 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 unposted in violation of this chapter.
The Chief of Police shall have the authority to revoke a parade or block party permit issued hereunder upon application of the standards for issuance as herein set forth.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.), by imprisonment for a term not to exceed ninety (90) days and/or by a term of community service not to exceed ninety (90) days. A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.