§ 142-88. Prohibited conduct during assemblies.

(a)

No person shall unreasonably hamper, obstruct, impede or interfere with any assembly, or with any person vehicle or animal participating in or used in an assembly.

(b)

No driver of a vehicle shall drive between the vehicles or persons comprising an assembly when the vehicles or persons are in motion and are conspicuously designated as an assembly, unless specifically authorized to do so by Atlanta Police Department Personnel.

(c)

The police chief shall have the authority, when reasonably necessary, to prohibit or restrict the parking of vehicles at or near the location where an assembly is being conducted, and/or along the route of an assembly. The host, at the direction of the Atlanta Police Chief or her/his designee shall post Atlanta Police Department approved "no parking" signs in the designated locations at least 48 hours prior to the time that the street will be closed. It shall be unlawful for any person to park or leave unattended any vehicle in violation of such signs. A person will be liable for parking on a street only if "no parking" signs are posted.

(d)

It shall be unlawful for any person at any assembly to carry or possess any weapon, as defined below. For purposes of this article, and notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code, "weapon" means any pistol, rifle, shotgun or other firearm of any kind, whether loaded or unloaded, air rifle, air pistol, paintball gun, paintball rifle, explosive, blasting cap(s), knife, hatchet, ax, slingshot, blackjack, metal knuckles, mace, iron buckle, ax handle, chains, crowbar, hammer, or any club, bludgeon or any other instrumentality used, or intended to be used, as a dangerous weapon.

(e)

It shall be unlawful for any person to carry or possess at any Assembly, any sign, poster, plaque or notice unless such sign, poster plaque, or notice is constructed solely of a cloth, vinyl, paper or flexible cardboard material no greater than one-quarter (¼) inch in thickness.

(f)

It shall be unlawful for any person to carry or possess at any assembly, any length of lumber, wood or wood lath unless it is one-fourth (¼) inch or less in thickness and two inches or less in width or if not generally rectangular in shape, such object shall not exceed three-quarters (¾) inch in its thickest dimension. Both ends of the length of lumber, wood or wood lath shall be blunt and shall not be pointed. Exceptions from this section include (1) lumber or wood used to support or control puppets, so long as the lumber or wood is not detached from the puppets; and (2) stilts, defined as two poles with footrests off the ground on which someone balances or walks, so long as each stilt does not exceed 15 feet in length and two inches by two inches in width.

(g)

It shall be unlawful for any person to carry or possess at any assembly, any length of metal, or other similar hard or stiff material, whether solid or hollow, unless the person is carrying a flagpole and is a participant in a portion of the assembly that utilizes flags.

(h)

It shall be unlawful for any person to carry or possess at any Assembly any length of plastic, except that hollow plastic may be used to support a sign, banner, placard or other similar display if: (1) the hollow plastic does not exceed three-quarter (¾) inch in its thickest dimension; (2) the hollow plastic does not exceed one-eighth ( 1/8 ) inch in wall thickness; (3) the hollow plastic is not filled with any material, liquid, gas or solid; and (4) both ends of the length of the hollow plastic shall be blunt, and not pointed.

(i)

It shall be unlawful for any person to carry or possess at any assembly, glass bottles, glass jars or glass containers of any kind, unless such glass container is a vial required to hold medication needed and utilized by an assembly participant, where such medication is customarily stored in a glass vial.

(j)

It shall be unlawful for any person to carry or possess at any assembly, balloons filled with any material or substance other than air, oxygen or helium. Such materials and substances include, but are not limited to, water, paint, or any other liquid, solid or gas.

(k)

It shall be unlawful for any person to carry or possess at any assembly, bricks, stones, rocks, or pieces of asphalt or concrete. It shall be unlawful for any person to throw similarly hard and heavy materials during an assembly.

(l)

It shall be unlawful for any person to carry or possess spray paint cans at any assembly.

(m)

It shall be unlawful for any person to carry or possess at any assembly, any projectile launcher or other device which is commonly used for the purpose of launching, hurling or throwing any object, liquid, material or other substance, including, but not limited to, so-called Supersoaker-type water guns and water cannons. Nothing in this subsection is intended to prohibit or restrict those participating in parades, demonstrations, rallies or assemblies from possessing sufficient amounts of water or other liquids designed and intended for human consumption during such events.

(n)

It shall be unlawful for any person to carry or possess at any assembly, any so-called "sleeping dragon device", with the intent or ability to use the device to deny or obstruct the public's ability to freely move about on roadways, sidewalks, or into or out of buildings. For purposes of this subsection, a sleeping dragon device shall mean a section of pipe, or a container, filled with weighted material, handcuffs, chains, carabiners or other locking devices used to lock a person or persons or other objects.

(o)

It shall be unlawful to throw items from a moving vehicle that is part of an assembly.

(p)

Nothing in this section shall prohibit a disabled person from carrying, possessing or using a wheelchair, cane, walker, or similar device necessary for providing mobility so that the person may participate in an assembly.

(q)

Nothing in this section is intended to authorize the possession or use of materials, weapons or devices that are otherwise prohibited by any other federal, state or local law or regulation. The purpose of this section is to prohibit the carrying or possession of items and materials that have the potential to be used as weapons to cause physical or property damage, and whose possession might not otherwise be prohibited by federal, state or local law.

(r)

Nothing in this section shall prohibit duly authorized law enforcement officers acting in their official capacity from carrying or possessing materials, weapons and/or devices used in the performance of law enforcement duties.

(Ord. No. 2009-04(08-O-2030), § 1, 1-31-09)