Chapter 12.24
PARADES, DANCES AND PROCESSIONS

Sections:

12.24.010    Parade defined.

12.24.020    Street dance defined.

12.24.030    Permit for parade or street dance.

12.24.040    Special parades – Waiver of requirements.

12.24.050    Authority of city manager.

12.24.060    National flag required at head of parade.

12.24.070    Flags and banners – Requirements for carrying.

12.24.080    Flags and banners – Exceptions.

12.24.090    Throwaways prohibited.

12.24.100    Advertising commercial products limited.

12.24.110    Police escort required.

12.24.120    Terms of permit.

12.24.130    Public liability insurance.

12.24.140    Hours when parades permitted.

12.24.010 Parade defined.

“Parade” means any number of persons marching or walking or any number of vehicles moving as a formal or semiformal body or unit on any street, public place, alley or sidewalk, except funeral and wedding processions and groups required by law to be so assembled. [Ord. 69 § 1.01].

12.24.020 Street dance defined.

“Street dance” means any dance of three or more couples on any public street, public alley or public sidewalk. [Ord. 69 § 1.02].

12.24.030 Permit for parade or street dance.

It shall be unlawful to conduct or take part in any parade or street dance on any street, alley or sidewalk in the city of Richland without first obtaining a permit. The permit shall be issued by the city manager. Request for a parade permit shall be made in writing and shall state the purpose of such parade, the place and hour of formation; the approximate number of cars, floats, marching units or bands to take part in the parade, the proposed order of the parade, the proposed line of march, and the names of the person, persons or organization having charge of such parade, and approximate duration of the parade. Request for a street dance permit shall be made in writing and shall state the purpose of the street dance, place and hour of formation, the approximate number of dancers to participate, the type of music to be used, and the approximate duration of the street dance. All applications for permits shall be filed with the city clerk at least 15 days prior to the time of the parade or street dance. [Ord. 69 § 1.03].

12.24.040 Special parades – Waiver of requirements.

The time limitation for making a request for any permit hereunder may be lessened or the permit entirely waived, at the discretion of the city manager, for any unexpected occasion or in the case of a parade of visitors arriving in the city within less than the described period preceding the desired hour of the parade. [Ord. 69 § 1.04].

12.24.050 Authority of city manager.

The city manager may direct such modification of the place of formation, of the line of march, and other details of any such parade or street dance, as traffic conditions and public safety may require, and may stop any parade or street dance whenever deemed necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety or morals. [Ord. 69 § 1.05].

12.24.060 National flag required at head of parade.

It is unlawful to march in any parade upon any street or sidewalk unless there is carried unfurled at the head of such parade a flag of the United States of America. The flag shall be carried in accordance with federal statutes relating thereto; provided, however, that this requirement shall not apply in the case of a parade by any military or naval force of a friendly nation who, as visitors or guests, may parade with their own national colors or ensigns. [Ord. 69 § 1.06].

12.24.070 Flags and banners – Requirements for carrying.

It is unlawful to march in any parade upon any street or sidewalk carrying any flag or banner except the flags, colors or ensigns of the United States of America or any of its military or naval organizations, including the National Guard, or the recognized flag or emblems of any friendly foreign nation or country, unless such flag or banner bears some distinct name in letters clearly legible at a distance of at least 100 feet, or legend, design or insignia clearly designating or descriptive of or identifying it as the emblem of the persons, society, association or organization marching in such parade; provided, however, that this requirement shall not apply to any flag, banner, pennant or other device used for any purely decorative or spectacular effect in any parade having no direct or indirect political purpose or object. In no case shall any American flag be carried which shall bear any lettering, advertisement or other defacement. [Ord. 69 § 1.07].

12.24.080 Flags and banners – Exceptions.

The provisions of RMC 12.24.060 and 12.24.070 shall not apply to a religious, wedding or funeral procession. [Ord. 69 § 1.08].

12.24.090 Throwaways prohibited.

It is unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, or organization, who participates in any parade, public exhibit, display or any similar public function or activity, on the streets, avenues or other public ways in the city of Richland to disburse, throw, hand or give any matter or thing to the public in such manner as to cause, directly or indirectly, children to enter the lanes of traffic and is further prohibited from encouraging people to enter upon the lanes of traffic. [Ord. 69 § 1.09].

12.24.100 Advertising commercial products limited.

No parade or street dance will be permitted where the purpose thereof is primarily devoted to advertising and promotion of any commercial products. [Ord. 69 § 1.10].

12.24.110 Police escort required.

All parades shall have a police escort, which shall be appointed by the chief of police. [Ord. 69 § 1.11].

12.24.120 Terms of permit.

Any permit issued hereunder may contain such reasonable terms and conditions as are consistent with the public health, safety and morals. [Ord. 69 § 1.12].

12.24.130 Public liability insurance.

No permit shall be issued until the permittee shall have filed with the director of finance a public liability insurance policy issued by an insurer authorized to do business in the state of Washington providing coverage to the permittee and to the city of Richland with limits of not less than $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence insuring against liability for damages which may be caused to a person or persons arising from any acts, or failure to act, of the permittee, his agents, employees, members of the parade or the city. In addition thereto, such policy of insurance shall provide coverage to the permittee and to the city of Richland, with limits of not less than $100,000, insuring against liability for damage to property arising from any acts or failure to act of the permittee, his agents, employees, members of the parade or the city. These requirements shall apply to parades requiring exclusive use of streets over the parade route. [Ord. 69 § 1.13; Ord. 68-76 § 1.01].

12.24.140 Hours when parades permitted.

Parades may only be held at such times as specified in the permit and provided they shall not be held during the peak traffic hours as determined by the chief of police of the city of Richland. [Ord. 69 § 1.14].