It is the policy of the City of Colonial Heights to preserve and protect
the freedom guaranteed to its citizens under the First Amendment of the United
States Constitution. The purpose of this chapter is to regulate any reasonable
time, place and manner of the expression of such rights, to preserve public
order and to maintain public health and safety. Nothing herein shall be construed
or applied to abridge such First Amendment rights.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall
have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
DEMONSTRATION
A group of persons assembled together and acting in concert to then
and there call attention of the public to their opposition to, support of
or position with respect to any political, social, cultural or eleemosynary
subject, cause or organization or to solicit funds therefor.
PARADE
Any parade, march or other procession of six or more persons for
the purpose of calling attention to the public thereto.
[Amended 8-14-2007 by Ord. No. 07-23]
It shall be unlawful for any person to sponsor, direct, lead or participate
in any parade or demonstration upon any street, sidewalk, or other public
place within the City unless a City permit has been issued to hold such parade
or demonstration, provided that this chapter shall not apply to convoys of
any component of the armed forces of the United States or this state, or to
any funeral procession. Any person or persons intending to sponsor, direct
or lead a parade or demonstration upon any street or sidewalk or upon or in
any public place within the City shall file an application for a parade or
demonstration permit with the City Manager at least 14 days prior to the date
of the intended parade or demonstration. Prior to the granting of the permit,
a fee of $5 shall be paid to defray the administrative cost of processing
the permit. No person or persons shall be allowed to obtain a parade or demonstration
permit for the same location on a street, sidewalk or public place or part
thereof more than three times in any twelve-month period; provided, however,
that when any permit application is denied on that basis, a reasonably equivalent
location shall be offered, if available. Whenever conflicting applications
are filed, preference shall be given to that person or those persons whose
most recent permit, if any, was issued earlier. Such application shall set
forth:
A. The dates and hours for the assembling of the participants in
such parade or demonstration, the expected duration thereof and the expected
number of participants.
B. The streets, sidewalks and public places over and upon which
the parade or demonstration is to take place.
C. Whether the parade or demonstration is to be conducted on foot
or with animals or vehicles, or any combination thereof, and the number of
persons, vehicles and animals expected to be involved.
D. The names and addresses of the actual sponsors of such parade
or demonstration.
E. The name and address of the person who shall be in charge of
such parade or demonstration and who shall be responsible for the conduct
thereof according to the permit.
F. Suggested means of security and control.
G. Such other information as the City Manager reasonably may require.
Each application for a parade or demonstration permit shall be signed
and attested by oath or affirmation to by at least one (1) person, who shall
be the person named in the application as the one who shall be in charge of
such parade or demonstration and shall be responsible for the conduct thereof
according to the permit.