It shall be lawful, as defined in this chapter, for any person, firm, corporation or other legal entity to hold or cause to be held a parade by first obtaining a parade permit from the Commissioner of Accounts.
A. 
A "parade" is any procession of any kind in a public place in the City of Saratoga Springs that is intended to attract public attention and that does not comply with normal traffic regulations and control.
B. 
Any person, corporation, partnership or other entity applying for a permit under this chapter must comply with Chapter 61 of the City Code entitled "Alcoholic Beverages."
C. 
Any person, corporation, partnership or other entity applying for a permit under this chapter must comply with Chapter 148 of the City Code entitled "Noise."
D. 
The following definitions shall apply to this chapter:
BANNER
Any sign, as defined herein, hung above a street, from a building, bridge structure or a vehicle or towed by a vehicle, including but not limited to an aircraft, watercraft or trailer.
CITY
The City of Saratoga Springs, New York.
CITY CLERK
The City Clerk of the City of Saratoga Springs, New York.
PERSON
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind.
PUBLIC PLACE
Any place to which the public has unrestricted access, but "public place" shall not mean the interior floor space of any building or any space covered by part of a building's permanent roof.
SIGNS
Any display of words, symbols or other visual images made of cloth, paper, plastic, card board or other material or any combination of such display.
SPECIAL EVENT
An event, occasion or celebration open to the public and held in or upon any public right-of-way, public street, public park or other public place or conducted in such a manner as to significantly impede public access to any public right-of-way, public street, public park or other public place.
This chapter shall not apply to:
A. 
Funeral processions.
B. 
Wedding processions.
C. 
Students going to and from school or classes or participating in educational activities, provided that such conduct is under the immediate supervision and direction of the proper school authorities. This exception does not apply to parades organized by a school or anybody thereof more than 24 hours prior to its occurrence.
D. 
A governmental agency acting within the scope of its functions.
A. 
The following items or activities are prohibited:
(1) 
Alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic beverages in any open container cannot be carried or possessed by participants of the parade.
(2) 
Explosives, fireworks or pyrotechnics. No person shall carry or possess any kind or mixture of explosives, fireworks or pyrotechnics.
(3) 
Facial coverings. Facial coverings, regardless of the material of which they are made, are not permitted to cover the face from the chin area to the forehead.
(4) 
Fencing material. Materials commonly used for fencing on property, or a safety zone including barricades and which could be used to obstruct governmental administration shall not be carried or possessed during a parade unless placed at a parade site by governmental agencies to control parade participants and continue to allow free access to sidewalks and other public places as allowed by statute, law, code or ordinance.
(5) 
Flammable or combustible liquids or gases. Flammable or combustible liquids, compressed gases or gases cannot be carried or possessed.
(6) 
Gas masks. Gas masks or similar devices designed to filter air breathed and protect the respiratory tract and face against the irritating, noxious or poisonous gases cannot be carried, possessed or worn.
(7) 
Injury, physical. The conduct of the special event is not reasonably likely to be cause physical injury to persons or property.
(8) 
Interference with emergency services. The special event will not unduly interfere with property, fire and police protection or emergency services to contiguous areas of such assembly areas.
(9) 
Obscene material. No person shall display, carry or possess any obscene material as defined by § 235.20 of the NYS Penal Law.
(10) 
Noxious materials. No person shall use, carry or possess any noxious material of any kind or strength while participating in a parade.
(11) 
Plastic or metal pipe. It is unlawful to carry or possess any length of plastic pipe more than 1/4 inch thick. Any metal pipe, metal angle iron, box steel, flat steel or similar plastic material is not permitted.
(12) 
Projectile launchers. Projectile launchers or other devices commonly used for the purpose of launching, hurling, or throwing any object, liquid, material or substance cannot be carried or possessed.
(13) 
Sidewalks (blocking). No person or group of persons shall block any lawful use of a public sidewalk or any ingress to or egress from any building by standing within 15 feet of said doorway or entrance or any driveway to any building.
(14) 
Signs. No sign or combination of signs shall render impassable any public way or any ingress to or egress from any public way, or render passage to, from or across a public way unreasonably difficult or hazardous. Posters, plaques or notices mounted on a support or hand held, constructed solely of cloth, paper, plastic or cardboard material no greater than 1/4 inch thick are permitted. Signs must be of such size and construction as to be safely carried and displayed.
(15) 
Splinter groups. No person or small group is permitted to break off the main group to stage smaller parade or picketing unless a new and separate permit is first obtained.
(16) 
Strong acid or base chemicals in solid, liquid or gas. No persons shall use, carry or possess any acidic or basic chemical regardless of its physical state.
(17) 
Traffic (blocking). No person shall block or otherwise interfere with highway, road or rail traffic to include ingress to or egress from a building or onto property.
(18) 
Wood or wood products. No person shall carry or possess any length of lumber, wood or wood lath unless the wood object is blunted at both ends, is 1/4 inch or less in thickness and two inches or less in width or, if not generally rectangular in shape, does not exceed 3/4 inch at its thickest.
A. 
The following items or activities have restricted use:
(1) 
Flyovers. Flyovers and aircraft trailing banners are not permitted unless requested for in the permit application in advance. A copy of the FAA authorization permit is required to be filed with the permit application.
(2) 
Firearms. Firearm use or carry, real or replica, whether for ceremonial use as in a color guard or not, must be approved by the Police Department.
(3) 
Sound-producing or amplifying devices. The use of any sound-producing or amplifying devices is permitted if the sound is so as not to be heard at 250 feet and beyond the parade. The use of said equipment must also comply with restrictions and limitations contained in Chapter 148 of the City Code entitled "Noise."
(4) 
Electricity. Electrical connections are not publicly available from the City. The use of an electric generator is prohibited. Electrical connections from private property are permitted, provided such connections shall have been inspected by a certified Electrical Inspector as to safety and compliance with the National Electrical Code. A copy of the inspection shall be filed with the Commissioner of Accounts prior to said use.