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SUBJECTS › LEGAL › NUISANCES › Nuisances on Public Property and Public Ways
Updated 05/07

Nuisances on Public Property and Public Ways

Contents

  • Parking of Vehicles
  • Parking of Vehicles for Sale
  • Regulation of Peddlers, Solicitors, Temporary Merchants and Mobile Vendors
  • Security Systems - Faulty Systems
  • Shopping Carts
  • Sidewalk Obstructions
  • Snow and Ice on Public Ways
  • Sprinkling on Streets
  • Yard Waste on Right-of-Way

    • Begging, Pedestrian Interference

    • Seattle Municipal Code, Section 12A.12.015 - Pedestrian Interference
    • Tacoma Municipal Code, Section 8.13.030 - Obstructing Pedestrians or Traffic (Adobe Acrobat Document 635 KB)
    • Tacoma Ordinance No. 27600 ( 229 KB) -Vehicular or Pedestrian Interference passed 4-03-07, file also contains research on comparative municipal ordinances in various U.S. cities, and comparison spread sheet
    • Tumwater Ordinance No. 098-008 relating to panhandling and prohibiting pedestrian interference by adding a new section 9.24.135 to municipal code (1998)

    Camping on Public Property

    • Everett Municipal Code Chapter 8.56 - Camping
    • Friday Harbor Municipal Code Section 10.04.050 (E) ( 108 KB)- Prohibited stopping, standing or parking areas....
        E. Parking of any vehicle on any town street for the purpose of camping or sleeping therein is prohibited.
    • Pierce County Code Chapter 8.96 (Adobe Acrobat Document 352 KB) -Parking and Camping Prohibited
    • Vancouver Municipal Code Chapter 8.22 - Camping

    Crowds

    Cruising and Street Racing

    A number of cities have adopted anti-cruising ordinances, which prohibit individuals from repeatedly driving on certain streets at certain times; such ordinances have been upheld by the courts, and they have been effective in some cities. Anti-cruising ordinances help to alleviate traffic congestion by dispersing the teenagers, thus lessening the likelihood of violence, and of antisocial behavior by some juveniles who want to show off for the crowd. Care should be taken to avoid passage of an overly broad cruising ordinance, which might invite a legal challenge. Not all cities have conditions justifying such ordinances.

    Debris on Roadway

    • RCW 46.61.655 provides that no vehicle shall be driven or moved on any public highway unless such vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping. This has also been adopted in the Model Traffic Ordinance.
    • Cheney Municipal Code Chapter 12.40 - Debris Removal
    • Clyde Hill Municipal Code  Section 8.05.020 - Definitions.... 7. Dirt, mud, rocks and/or debris of any kind dropped, deposited or allowed to remain in any manner or condition on the surface of any street within the town. (1993)
    • Marysville Municipal Code Chapter 12.40 - Clean Condition of Public Right-Of-Way
    • Seattle Municipal Code
    • Litter - MRSC
    • Erosion and Sediment Control - MRSC

    Fences as Nuisances

    Obstructions in Right-of-Way

    • Lewis County Code  Chapter 8.35 ( 397 KB) - Nuisances on Highways and Rights-of-Way
    • Camas Municipal Code, Section 8.06.040(I) - Obstructions Public Right-of-Way

      Parking of Vehicles

      Peddlers and Solicitors

      Faulty Security Systems

      False alarms are more than an inconvenience; they take up the time and energy of emergency personnel who may be needed to respond to a real emergency. The majority of alarm calls received by police departments are false alarms which may be avoided by proper maintenance of alarm systems and a suitable response by the property owner once the alarm has sounded. Many jurisdictions have adopted false alarm ordinances to increase awareness and accountability of alarm owners. The penalties provide an incentive for alarm owners to inspect and maintain their systems and take corrective action to prevent false alarms.

      Sidewalk Obstructions

      • Auburn Municipal Code Ch. 12.32 - Sidewalk Obstructions
      • Everett Municipal Code, Ch. 13.12 - Obstructing Sidewalks
      • Mercer Island Municipal Code, Section 8.24.020 - Types of nuisances.... (F) and (H)

      Shopping Carts

      Snow Removal

      Sprinkling on Streets

      Yard Waste on Streets

      • Lake Forest Park Municipal Code  Section 8.04.050  - Unlawful disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW), recyclables, yard waste and bulky yard waste.

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