Chapter 20 Public Assemblies Permit Act

§ 20-1. Short title.

This Chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Public Assembly Permit Act." (Ordinance 64 effective April 24th 1967)

§ 20-2. Definitions.

For the purposes of this Chapter, the following terms, phrases, words, and their derivations shall have the meaning given herein. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future, words in the plural number include the singular number, and words in the singular number include the plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory. (Ordinance 64 effective April 24th 1967)

"Chief of Police" is the Chief of Police of the Police Department of the Town of Easton.

"County" is Talbot County, Maryland.

"Person" is any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, or organization of any kind.

"Public property" is any land including improvements or structures thereon owned, lease, maintained or operated by the State of Maryland, County of Talbot, or Town of Easton.

"State" is State of Maryland.

"Town" is Town of Easton.

"Vehicle" is any wheeled conveyance powered by any means and shall include trailer or van.

§ 20-3. Permit required for public assemblies.

No persons shall call, schedule, plan, announce, hold or conduct any open air public meeting, rally, conference, assembly or similar gathering upon any public property within the corporate limits of the Town of Easton without first having obtained a permit therefor. (Ordinance 64 effective April 24th 1967)

§ 20-4. Application for permit to be filed with Chief of Police.

A permit for public meetings as provided in Section 20A-3 shall be issued by the Chief of Police of the Town following an application therefor which must be made a least fourteen (14) days prior to the planned meeting. (Ordinance 64 effective April 24th 1967)

§ 20-5. Application for permit to contain pertinent information.

Any person seeking a permit hereunder shall file an application which application shall state: (Ordinance 64 effective April 24th 1967)

  1. The name and address of the applicant.
  2. The name and address of the person sponsoring the meeting.
  3. The day and hours for which the permit is desired.
  4. The public property for which the permit is sought to hold the meeting.
  5. An estimate of the number of people holding the meeting, together with an estimate of the number of people who will be attracted thereto.
  6. The number of vehicles which will be used in connection with the meeting.
  7. The amount and type of loud speaker or amplification equipment which will be used.
  8. If a parade, all of the above information, as well as the estimated number of marchers and the desired route.
  9. Purpose and subject of the meeting.

§ 20-6. Standards for issuance or denial of permit.

The Chief of Police shall issue a permit hereunder if he finds: (Ordinance 64 effective April 24th 1967)

  1. That the proposed activity or meeting will not unreasonably interfere with or detract from the general public use of the public property for which the permit is sought.
  2. That the proposed activity of meeting will not unreasonably interfere with or detract from the promotion of the general public health, welfare, safety, or recreation.
  3. That the proposed activity or meeting is not reasonably anticipated to incite violence, disorder, crime or disturbance of the public peace.
  4. That the proposed activity will not entail unusual, extraordinary or burdensome expense or police operation or activity, or traffic problems to the Town.
  5. That the facilities desired have not been the subject of a permit for a different use at the day and hour requested in the application.

§ 20-7. Appeals procedure.

Any person aggrieved by the failure of the Chief of Police to issue a permit as herein provided shall have a right of appeal in writing to the Council of the Town within ten (10) days following the notification of the denial of the application and the Town Council shall have the right to sustain or overrule the decision of the Chief of Police. (Ordinance 64 effective April 24th 1967)

§ 20-8. Permit issued subject to existing law.

An person granted a permit hereunder shall be subject to all laws and ordinances of the Town, County and State to the same extent as is fully set forth in the permit. (Ordinance 64 effective April 24th 1967)

§ 20-9. Revocation of permit.

The Chief of Police and/or the Town Council shall have full and complete authority to revoke any permit issued hereunder for violation of any law or ordinance for any of the standards for issuance set forth in Section 20A-6. (Ordinance 64 effective April 24th 1967)