This chapter shall be known and may be cited
as the "Civil Emergency Ordinance."
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
CIVIL EMERGENCY
Either:
A.
A riot or unlawful assembly characterized by
the use of actual force or violence, when criminal or lawless activity
has suddenly and rapidly increased to the extent that it appears a
riot is imminent.
B.
A natural disaster or man-made calamity, including
a flood, conflagration, cyclone, tornado, earthquake or explosion
within the City resulting in the death or injury of persons or the
destruction of property to such an extent that extraordinary measures
have to be taken to protect the public health, safety and welfare.
CURFEW
A prohibition against any person walking, running, loitering,
standing or motoring upon an alley, street, highway, public property
or vacant premises within the City excepting persons officially designated
as not subject to such curfew.
The Mayor or his lawful designee may then order
a general curfew applicable to such geographical areas of the City
or to the City as a whole, as he deems advisable, and applicable during
such hours of the day or night as he deems necessary in the interest
of the public safety and welfare. No person who is not a resident
of the City, as evidenced by a current address on his driver's license
or other valid identification, shall be arrested or prosecuted for
violation of a curfew without first being given a reasonable opportunity
to continue through or otherwise leave the area which is under a state
of civil emergency. Any person who is given a reasonable opportunity
to leave such area and does not do so is subject to arrest and prosecution.
[Amended 1-24-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-02]
A. The Mayor or his lawful designee, proclaiming a civil emergency in
the interest of public safety and welfare, may also make any of the
following orders:
(1) Order the closing of all retail liquor establishments.
(2) Order the closing of all beer taverns.
(3) Order the closing of all private clubs or portions thereof wherein
the consumption of intoxicating liquor or beer or both is permitted.
(4) Order the discontinuance of the sale of beer.
(5) Order the discontinuance of selling, distributing, or giving away
gasoline or other liquid flammable or other combustible products in
any container other than a gasoline tank properly affixed to a motor
vehicle.
(6) Order the closing of gasoline stations and other establishments,
the chief activity of which is the sale, distribution, or dispensing
of liquid flammable or combustible products.
(7) Order the discontinuance of the lawful sale or distribution of any
explosives or dangerous weapons.
(8) Order the closing of any or all establishments or portions thereof,
the chief activity of which is the lawful sale or distribution of
explosives or dangerous weapons.
(9) Issue such other orders as are necessary for the protection of life
and property or to bring the civil emergency under control.
B. Subsection
A does not authorize the seizure, taking or confiscation of lawfully possessed firearms or ammunition, or a prohibition on the lawful sale or distribution of any firearms or ammunition.
A curfew or order authorized by this chapter
shall become effective upon being posted in three public places in
the City or affected area thereof and transmitted to newspapers of
general circulation in the area. The curfew and orders may be amended
or rescinded in like manner by the Mayor or his lawful designee during
the pendency of the civil emergency, but shall cease to be in effect
upon the declaration by the Mayor or his lawful designee that the
civil emergency no longer exists, or when superseded by action of
the Governor of the State of Michigan.
After proclamation of a civil emergency, or
any order thereunder, the Mayor or his lawful designee shall forthwith
provide for notice thereof to be given to members of the City Commission
and to the Governor of the State of Michigan.
A violation of this chapter or any order issued
thereunder is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding $500
or by imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or by both such fine
and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.