Charlotte Proposes Banning Sleeping Dragons
Seriously.
On Monday night, January 9th, the Charlotte City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed ordinances that will affect protests during the DNC and the Occupy movement. The Council’s schedule for the evening is available HERE, and the specific proposals being discussed can be found HERE.
Among the proposals are the creation of a new class of event to be called “Extraordinary Events”.
Extraordinary event means a time period during which a large-scale special event of national or international significance and/or that is likely to attract a significant number of people is occurring within the City and for which a large number of permit applications are expected.
Complete power over the declaration of an “extraordinary” event is given to the City Manager.
Unclear as to whether the proposal is restricted only to “extraordinary events” is the prohibition of camping on public property.
Camp or camping means the use of city property for living accommodation purposes such as sleeping, or making preparations to sleep (including the laying down of bedding for the purpose of sleeping), or storing personal belongings, or placing any tents or a temporary shelter on city property.
Temporary Shelter means tents, tarps, or any type of structure or cover that provides partial shelter from the elements.
Obstruction of roadways and public rights of ways are prohibited.
Obstruction object or instrument as used in this section means a device commonly known as a “lock box” or “sleeping dragon” or any of the components of such a device including’ but not limited to: pipes, tubes, wire handcuffs, chains, carabiners, or padlocks, or containers either weighted or not.
The possession and dispersal of noxious substances will be prohibited and are defined as
any substance that is harmful or destructive or foul or offensive to human beings, such as but not limited to garbage, trash, refuse, animal parts or fluids, manure, urine, feces or other organic waste by-products.”
There are also significant changes made to the rules and processes by which citizens can use streets, sidewalks, and public spaces to conduct activities. These need to be looked into further.
Reading through government speak can be a challenging ordeal. The logic structure is often abysmally complicated as every section and subsection reflects back or references other sections and subsections. Sometimes it’s like giving the definition of a word by using the word being defined in the definition.
Some of the proposals seem common sense enough, but it also seems like the entire section of rules and regulations is significantly more complicated than it needs to be. How about making the entire section just about a sentence long? How about, “Don’t hurt anyone, clean up your mess, and don’t stop traffic.”
The more we try to micro-manage human behavior by attempting to define each and every possible path of activity, we are only running the risk of turning the average person into a criminal. For example, it is unlawful to be present at a parade or festival if one possesses or has immediate access to “A bar, chain, shaft, staff, cable, wire, lumber, or plastic pipe capable of inflicting serious injury to a person if thrown at or struck upon another”. So, if one just so happens to be a plumber with some plastic pipe in the van and decides to go to a parade, are they violating the law? Seems like it.
We definately need to be prepared for the DNC and any other large event to ensure the safety of our citizens, but do these proposals, in attempting to define *everything*, not run the risk of unindended consequences? When common sense and the law collide, common sense should win out. Will it?
Read through the proposals and comment on anything you see as unclear or with the potential for interpretations other than indended.
If you’d like to speak on the subject at the January 9 meeting, call the City Clerk’s office at 704-336-2248.
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