Chapter 10.12
OBSTRUCTING GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

Sections:

10.12.030    Intimidating a public servant.

10.12.080    Obstruction of fire extinguishment.

10.12.090    False alarm of fire – Tampering with apparatus.

10.12.100    Fire apparatus right-of-way.

10.12.110    Following fire apparatus prohibited.

10.12.120    Injuring fire apparatus.

10.12.180    False swearing.

10.12.190    Bribing a witness.

10.12.200    Intimidating a witness.

10.12.030 Intimidating a public servant.

It is unlawful for any person to intimidate any public servant and/or any members of his immediate family by verbal threats, gestures, letters, or other action of any kind, knowing that the person is a public servant. (Ord. 1066 § 59, 1983; Ord. 737 § 1.08.020, 1968).

10.12.080 Obstruction of fire extinguishment.

It is unlawful for any person, with intent to prevent or obstruct the extinguishment of any fire, to cut or remove any bell rope, wire or other apparatus for communicating an alarm of fire, or to cut, injure or destroy any engine, hose or other fire apparatus, or otherwise prevent or obstruct the extinguishment of any fire. (Ord. 1066 § 67, 1983; Ord. 737 § 1.08.120, 1968).

10.12.090 False alarm of fire – Tampering with apparatus.

It is unlawful for any person to knowingly make or cause to be made any false alarm of fire, or to in any manner tamper or interfere with any fire alarm or fire apparatus. This section shall not apply to a public servant, who, in the lawful exercise of his duties, is testing, repairing or otherwise working on any fire alarm or apparatus. (Ord. 1066 § 70, 1983; Ord. 784 §§ 1, 2, 1970).

10.12.100 Fire apparatus right-of-way.

Whenever a fire alarm has been sounded, all firefighting apparatus shall have the right-of-way on all streets, alleys, public places and at all intersections of such streets, alleys and public places within the city, and whenever a fire alarm or siren whistle of the fire truck has been sounded, it shall be the duty of the driver of any vehicle, motor-driven or otherwise, to immediately clear the street or such other public place by drawing up to the curb of such street or public place and coming to a full stop until all fire apparatus have safely passed. (Ord. 1066 § 72, 1983; Ord. 457 § 2, 1929).

10.12.110 Following fire apparatus prohibited.

The driver of any vehicle, other than one on official business, shall not follow any fire apparatus travelling in response to a fire alarm closer than 500 feet, or stop such vehicle within 500 feet of any fire apparatus that is stopped in answer to a fire alarm or other emergency alarm. (Ord. 1066 § 73, 1983).

10.12.120 Injuring fire apparatus.

It is unlawful for any person to drive any vehicle over or across any fire hose or other fire apparatus, or otherwise injure or disturb the same, while the same is in use or while the same is upon any street or public place or upon the ground for drying, or for any other purpose, or to in any manner injure, interfere with or molest any hose, hose car, fire engine or any other equipment or supplies kept for the prevention or extinguishment of fires. (Ord. 1066 § 74, 1983; Ord. 457 § 3, 1929).

10.12.180 False swearing.

It is unlawful for any person to make a false statement, which he knows to be false, under an oath required or authorized by law. No person shall be convicted of false swearing if he retracts his false statement in the course of the same proceeding in which it was made, if in fact he does so before it becomes manifest that the falsification is or will be exposed and before the falsification substantially affects the proceeding. (Ord. 1066 § 80, 1983).

10.12.190 Bribing a witness.

It is unlawful for any person to offer, confer or agree to confer any benefit upon a witness or a person he has reason to believe is about to be called as a witness in any official proceedings if done with the intent to:

(1) Influence the testimony of that person; or

(2) Induce that person to avoid legal process summoning him to testify; or

(3) Induce that person to absent himself from an official proceeding to which he has been legally summoned. (Ord. 1066 § 81, 1983).

10.12.200 Intimidating a witness.

It is unlawful for any person to intimidate a witness by use of a threat directed to a witness or a person he has reason to believe is about to be called as a witness in an official proceeding, if done with the intent to:

(1) Influence the testimony of that person; or

(2) Induce that person to elude legal process summoning him to testify; or

(3) Induce that witness to absent himself from such proceedings. (Ord. 1066 § 82, 1983).