CHAPTER 25
PEDESTRIAN INTERFERENCE
SECTION:
6-25-2: Pedestrian Interference
6-25-3: Violation (Rep. by Ord. 5635, 11-14-11)
6-25-4: Prohibition Against Sitting Or Lying Down On A Public Sidewalk (Rep. by Ord. 5635, 11-14-11)
6-25-5: Civil Infraction (Rep. by Ord. 5635, 11-14-11)
6-25-1 DEFINITIONS:
The following definitions shall apply in this Chapter:
AGGRESSIVELY BEG means to beg: a) with the intent to intimidate another person into giving money or goods, b) while using intimidation, c) in a manner that creates a threat to the safety of any person or property, d) in a manner that exploits minors, or e) within twenty-five (25) feet of an Automated Teller Machine (ATM). The measurement shall be a straight line without regard to intervening structures or objects from the nearest part of the ATM.
AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE (ATM) means a device, linked to a financial institution’s account records, which is able to carry out transactions, including, but not limited to: account transfers, deposits, cash withdrawals, balance inquiries, and mortgage and loan documents.
BEG means to ask for money or goods as a charity, whether by words, bodily gestures, signs, or other means.
EXPLOITS MINORS means begging while associating with one (1) or more minors when the funds will not benefit the minor(s) or where the minor(s) is (are) not cooperating voluntarily.
INTIMIDATE OR INTIMIDATION means to use words or engage in conduct that would likely cause a reasonable person to fear bodily harm, fear damage to or loss of property, or otherwise be compelled into giving money or other things of value. Intimidation shall include, but not be limited to: a) using violent or threatening gestures toward the person being, or who has been, solicited; b) using profane or threatening language directed toward the person being, or who has been, solicited that is inherently likely to provoke an immediate violent reaction; or c) intentionally touching or causing physical contact with another person without that person’s consent.
OBSTRUCT PEDESTRIAN OR VEHICULAR TRAFFIC means: a) to intentionally walk, stand, sit, lie, or place an object in such a manner as to block passage by another person or a vehicle, or b) to require another person or a driver of a vehicle to take evasive action to avoid physical contact. Acts authorized as an exercise of one’s constitutional right to picket or to legally protest, and acts authorized by a permit issued by the City of Renton shall not constitute obstruction of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
PUBLIC PLACE means any area that is generally visible to public view, and any area private or otherwise that is in common use by the public with the consent, express or implied, of the owner or owners, and includes any road, alley, bridge, driveway, parking area, sidewalk, park, playground, schoolground, recreation ground, park drive, park path, wharf, waterway, building, plaza, or public conveyance open to the general public, including those that serve food or drink or provide entertainment, and the doorways and entrances to buildings or dwellings and the grounds enclosing them. (Ord. 4672, 7-21-97; Ord. 5621, 9-12-11; Ord. 5635, 11-14-11)
6-25-2 PEDESTRIAN INTERFERENCE:
A person is guilty of pedestrian interference, if, in a public place, he or she intentionally:
A. Obstructs pedestrian or vehicular traffic; or
B. Aggressively begs; or
C. Sits or lies down upon a public sidewalk, or upon a blanket, chair, stool, or any other object placed upon a public sidewalk, during the hours between seven a.m. (7:00 a.m.) and twelve a.m. (12:00 a.m.) in the following zones:
1. The Downtown Zone is defined as the area zoned as Center Downtown (CD).
2. Neighborhood Commercial Zones are defined as areas zoned as Center Village (CV), Commercial Arterial (CA), and Commercial Neighborhood (CN).
D. Exceptions: The prohibition in subsection C of this section shall not apply to any person:
1. Sitting or lying down on a public sidewalk due to a medical emergency;
2. Who, as the result of a disability, utilizes a wheelchair, walker, or similar device to move about the public sidewalk;
3. Operating or patronizing a commercial establishment conducted on the public sidewalk pursuant to a street use permit; or a person participating in or attending a parade, festival, performance, rally, demonstration, meeting, or similar event conducted on the public sidewalk pursuant to a street use or other applicable permit;
4. Sitting on a chair or bench located on the public sidewalk which is supplied by a public agency or by the abutting private property owner;
5. Sitting on a public sidewalk within a bus stop zone while waiting for public or private transportation.
Nothing in any of these exceptions shall be construed to permit any conduct which is prohibited by subsection A or B of this section.
E. No person shall be cited under this section unless the person engaged in conduct prohibited by this section after having been notified by a law enforcement officer that the conduct violates this section.
Pedestrian interference is a misdemeanor, as defined in RCW 9A.20.021(3) as it currently exists or is amended in the future. (Ord. 4672, 7-21-97; Ord. 5635, 11-14-11)
6-25-3 VIOLATION:
(Rep. by Ord. 5635, 11-14-11)
6-25-4 PROHIBITION AGAINST SITTING OR LYING DOWN ON A PUBLIC SIDEWALK:
(Rep. by Ord. 5635, 11-14-11)
6-25-5 CIVIL INFRACTION:
(Rep. by Ord. 5635, 11-14-11)