Source: http://cityofbr.org/publicsafety/partyguide.php
Timestamp: 2017-06-24 08:54:21
Document Index: 422751469

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 9', '§ 130', '§ 130', '§ 130', '§ 9', '§ 130', '§ 130', '§ 130', '§ 130', '§ 130']

GUIDELINES FOR SAFE AND LEGAL SOCIAL EVENTS
HOSTING A PARTY: FOLLOW THE RULES AND AVOID THE HASSLES
The City of Big Rapids and the State of Michigan have several ordinances and laws that apply to parties. By being aware of these rules and following them, you can insure that while having a good time, you stay out of trouble.
The most important law to be aware of is the State Law governing alcohol sales. This law makes it a Felony to sell alcohol without a license.
The law considers any exchange of money to be selling, so any of the following arrangements are illegal: Charging a cover charge at the door and allowing those entering to drink alcohol provided at the party. Charging a cover charge at the door and allowing those entering to drink alcohol they bring with them. Selling advance tickets and doing the same things listed above. Taking "donations" for the alcohol from those who come to your party. The only legal way you can have alcohol at your party is to provide it to your guests at no charge or let them bring their own and not charge them for attending. You should also be aware that if you provide alcohol to your guests you may be liable if they become intoxicated and are later injured or involved in an accident. It is a misdemeanor to provide alcohol to persons under the age of 21 or to allow them to drink alcohol on your premises. The City has three ordinances that are primarily aimed at house parties: It is a civil infraction to disturb the peace and quiet of the neighborhood. This usually involves the stereo being too loud. The rule of thumb to follow here is if the stereo can be heard from the sidewalk, it is too loud. The Nuisance Party Ordinance makes it a misdemeanor to host a party, which is defined as a gathering of two or more people, that involves any one of several things, including public drinking, public urination, littering, obstructing traffic, conduct causing injury, endangering the safety of the neighborhood, indecent conduct, or disturbing the neighborhood peace and quiet. The Nuisance Padlock Ordinance gives the City the authority to padlock a house that has three or more nuisance parties in a nine-month period. The ordinance does not require tickets to be issued each time to create a violation of the ordinance. Violating this ordinance could result in you being evicted and still being held responsible for the remaining rent. The best way to stay out of this situation is to keep the number of people attending your party manageable and if you see any of your guests behaving inappropriately let them know. If necessary, ask them to leave.
Should the police be called to your party, you can make the situation a lot easier for everyone if you follow these guidelines: Keep in mind that the officer is usually there to answer the concerns of a neighbor who has complained that the party is disturbing the peace or is violating some law or ordinance. The have a duty to respond and address the situation to see if there is a violation. Officers will also be proactive if they see violations and make contact before an official complaint is made. Working with the Officer may save you grief later on.
If you are the host of the party, immediately identify yourself to the officer and tell the officer it is your party. Don't play games. It will only force the officer to take enforcement action.
Refusing to come to the door when an officer knocks will not prevent the issuance of a ticket. It will only complicate the process and likely make things worse. Be cooperative in trying to correct whatever the problem is.
Becoming a "curb side lawyer" helps no one. Remember, the officer is only trying to handle the complaint and the easier that is done, the better it will be for you and your party. Remember, it is your party and you are responsible. You may get ticketed, or arrested, if enforcement action needs to be taken. It is to your advantage to keep the party under control right from the start and avoid having the police show up at all.
If you have any questions feel free to contact the big Rapids Department of Public Safety at (231)527-0005 or a general contact on this page
NUISANCE PARTY: A social gathering or party
conducted on any premises within the City and
which, by reason of the conduct of those persons in
attendance, results in any one or more of the
following conditions or events occurring on the
premises or neighboring public or private property:
(1) The unlawful sale, furnishing,
possession, or consumption of alcoholic beverages;
(2) Urination or defecation on neighboring
public or private property, or on the premises in
view of another person;
(3) Unlawful deposit of trash or litter;
(4) Destruction of property;
(5) Unlawful vehicular traffic, or the
unlawful standing or parking of vehicles which
obstructs the free flow of traffic or interferes with the
ability to render emergency services;
(6) Unlawful parking of vehicles within the
public streets, alleys, or sidewalks, or upon private
(7) Excessive, unnecessary or unusually
loud noise which disturbs the comfort, quiet or
repose of one or more members of the
neighborhood, including public disturbances,
brawls, fights or quarrels;
(8) Conduct or a condition which injures
(9) Conduct or a condition which
endangers the safety of persons or property in the
(10) Conduct or a condition which results in
the indecent exposure of a person, or the display of
graphic sexual behavior, whether real or simulated,
to a member of the public not attending the social
gathering or party;
(11) Unlawful sale, furnishing, manufacture,
use, or possession of a controlled substance as
defined by federal or state law.
('88 Code, Title IX, Ch. 109, § 9.60) (Ord. 210-8-85,
passed 8-19-85; Am. Ord. 436-8-98, passed 8-3-98)
§ 130.16 NUISANCE PARTY PROHIBITED: Any owner, occupant, tenant, guests or person
otherwise having any possessory control,
individually or jointly , of any premises who either
sponsors, conducts, hosts, invites, or permits a social
gathering or party which is or during the course
thereof becomes a nuisance party which is either the
intentional result of or within the reasonable
expectations of the person or persons having such
possessory control is hereby deemed to have
committed a violation of this code, and upon
conviction shall be subject to the penalties as
provided by § 130.99. In any prosecution for aviolation of this section or the section prohibiting
persons from attending nuisance parties, proof of
specific intent shall not be required as a necessary
element, but proof of general criminal intent shall be
a necessary element. The penalty for a subsequent
violaiton of this section is set forth in § 130.99.
('88 Code, Title IX, Ch. 109, § 9.61) (Ord. 210-8-85,
Breach of peace offenses, see § 130.04
§ 130.17 PERSONS IN ATTENDANCE AT
NUISANCE PARTIES: Any person knowingly in attendance at a
nuisance party as defined by § 130.15, whether or not
such person has any possessory control over the
premises, shall be deemed to have committed a
violation of this section and upon conviction shall be
punished as provided in § 130.99(B). "Knowingly"
shall require as an element of proof that the person
knew or had clear reason to know of the actual
existence of one or more of the conditions or events
listed in the definition of a nuisance party.
(Ord. 322-4-93, passed 4-19-93; Am. Ord. 436-8-98,
passed 8-3-98) Penalty, see § 130.99