Seligman changes disorderly conduct ordinance
November 20, 2019
Vinnie Roberts
At a city council meeting on Tuesday, November 12, the Seligman Board of Alderman passed an amended version of an existing ordinance into law. The new ordinance is a variation on an existing ordinance regarding disorderly conduct. While the city previously had language in place regarding these crimes, some problems existed on the legal end that prevented the city from adequately charging individuals with these crimes.
“It was already a state statute but without adopting it and setting a fine amount to it, we couldn’t charge it under our city code as misdemeanor,” explained Seligman city clerk Brian Nichols. “By adopting it and adding it to our city code, our officers can write someone a ticket off of it.”
According to Nichols, the ordinance mirrors the state statute regarding disorderly conduct.
“The ordinance falls along the same language as the state statute does, we just didn’t have it in our code,” said Nichols.
Nichols went on to explain the scope of the ordinance which covers not only gatherings deemed to be unlawful, but also mischievous acts committed in public.
“If we have a congregation of individuals in an area on public property and an officer asks them to leave and they refuse, it falls under disorderly conduct.” Nichols continued. “It also covers public urination and things like that.”
According to the language of the ordinance, the scope of crimes that fall under the blanket of “disorderly conduct” include: unreasonable or excessive noise; violence or threatening behavior; making obscene gestures or threats in public with the intent to provoke; disrupting a lawful gathering; obstructing vehicle and pedestrian traffic; and both public urination and defecation.
Nichols ended, concluding that this ordinance change is part of a wider effort on the part of the city to bring city code more congruent with state statutes.
“We didn’t have language to cover those particular topics before,” continued Nichols. “This is just one of many efforts to build up city code to fall more in line with state statutes.”
The new ordinance was read and passed during the council meeting on November 12. According to the ordinance’s language, it is currently in effect within Seligman city limits.
For any questions about the new ordinance or any further changes to city code, contact Seligman City Hall at (417) 662-3600.
Vinnie Roberts
At a city council meeting on Tuesday, November 12, the Seligman Board of Alderman passed an amended version of an existing ordinance into law. The new ordinance is a variation on an existing ordinance regarding disorderly conduct. While the city previously had language in place regarding these crimes, some problems existed on the legal end that prevented the city from adequately charging individuals with these crimes.
“It was already a state statute but without adopting it and setting a fine amount to it, we couldn’t charge it under our city code as misdemeanor,” explained Seligman city clerk Brian Nichols. “By adopting it and adding it to our city code, our officers can write someone a ticket off of it.”
According to Nichols, the ordinance mirrors the state statute regarding disorderly conduct.
“The ordinance falls along the same language as the state statute does, we just didn’t have it in our code,” said Nichols.
Nichols went on to explain the scope of the ordinance which covers not only gatherings deemed to be unlawful, but also mischievous acts committed in public.
“If we have a congregation of individuals in an area on public property and an officer asks them to leave and they refuse, it falls under disorderly conduct.” Nichols continued. “It also covers public urination and things like that.”
According to the language of the ordinance, the scope of crimes that fall under the blanket of “disorderly conduct” include: unreasonable or excessive noise; violence or threatening behavior; making obscene gestures or threats in public with the intent to provoke; disrupting a lawful gathering; obstructing vehicle and pedestrian traffic; and both public urination and defecation.
Nichols ended, concluding that this ordinance change is part of a wider effort on the part of the city to bring city code more congruent with state statutes.
“We didn’t have language to cover those particular topics before,” continued Nichols. “This is just one of many efforts to build up city code to fall more in line with state statutes.”
The new ordinance was read and passed during the council meeting on November 12. According to the ordinance’s language, it is currently in effect within Seligman city limits.
For any questions about the new ordinance or any further changes to city code, contact Seligman City Hall at (417) 662-3600.
