Source: https://acluhi.org/first-amendment-toolkit/?share=google-plus-1
Timestamp: 2019-05-25 13:21:30
Document Index: 686054196

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 21', '§ 19', '§ 21', 'art7', '§ 29', '§ 29', '§ 13', '§ 21', 'art_4', '§ 10', '§ 41', '§ 40', '§ 29', '§ 29', '§ 10', '§ 3', '§ 710', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 15', '§ 3', '§ 711']

First Amendment Toolkit – ACLU of Hawai‘i
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Know Your Rights – Protests & Demonstrations in Honolulu
Presented as a public education service by the ACLU of Hawaii Foundation. Content freely useable for non-commercial purposes. Printed Toolkit presented with generous underwriting support from the Hawaii People’s Fund and the Sidney Stern Memorial Trust. Get a printer-friendly version here!: http://bit.ly/1GiaIHJ Last edit: 1/24/19
About this Toolkit and “expressive activity”
Know Your Rights (“KYR”) line & useful contact info for protesters
Quick reference: top 6 things to know if you choose to protest
Quick Reference: Permit lead times and FAQ
Special Section: Protesting on the neighbor islands
Special Section: KYR/Documenting in public & encounters with Law Enforcement
Special section: Know Your Rights: Interacting with Government Representatives on Social Media: https://acluhi.org/1stam-social-media/ (1/2019)
KYR Encountering Law Enforcement (ADULTS)
KYR Encountering Law Enforcement (YOUTH)
Protest permit problems? Free speech issues @ a protest? Law enforcement problems? Suggest new sections for the Toolkit? Call the confidential ACLU of Hawaii “Know Your Rights” Line: (808) 522-5906 and/or email office@acluhawaii.org.
About this Toolkit: 3/2015 v.1.7.
Order printed copies (free!): Call (808) 522-5906 or email office@acluhawaii.org. tell us how many copies you need and leave an address. Shipped free via U.S. Mail.
Quick reference – 6 key things to know if you choose to protest:
Your Message – What About:
What is “expressive activity”?
“Occupying” buildings
Will police warn me before arrest?
“Going limp” – is it resisting arrest?
What are the penalties if I get arrested?
Access restrictions and “buffer zones” – are they legal?
Do government employees have free speech?
What is “expressive activity?”The First Amendment protects speech (“expressive activity”) where the main goal is expression, dissemination, or communication of political, religious, philosophical, or ideological opinions, views, or ideas and where no fee is charged to participate or attend.
There is no single definition of “expressive activity,” but it’s often something like this: “Expressive activity” means speech or conduct, the principal object of which is the expression, dissemination, or communication by verbal, visual, literary, or auditory means of political, religious, philosophical, or ideological opinions, views, or ideas. Expressive Activity includes, but is not limited to, public oratory and the distribution of literature.top of this section
Can I carry signs? What about signs along roads and on overpasses? Almost always, the First Amendment will protect your right to hold signs (as long as you are legally allowed to stand/sit wherever you happen to be holding the sign). You can have signs on sticks, just use your common sense and be careful not to hit anything or anyone.Generally, you can carry signs along roads and on overpasses, but you cannot place any signs on the road. You may not hang a sign from an overpass. You may wish to contact the State Dept. of Transportation, (808) 587-2220 with questions.
UPDATE (2/3/12): While we are not aware of any regulations prohibiting an individual from holding a protest sign on public property, you may want to contact the Honolulu Department of Transportation Services (www1.honolulu.gov/dts/) with questions about signs and roadways, the Department of Parks and Recreation (www1.honolulu.gov/parks/) for questions about signs in parks, and/or the Department of Planning and Permitting (http://www.honoluludpp.org/Planning.aspx) for questions about signs on private property. You may also wish to review Revised Ordinances of Honolulu § 21-7.20(d), prohibiting “[a]ny sign which by reason of its size, location, movement, content, coloring or manner of illumination constitutes a traffic hazard or a detriment to traffic safety by obstructing the vision of drivers, or by obstructing or detracting from the visibility of any official traffic control device, or by diverting or tending to divert the attention of drivers of moving vehicles from the traffic movement of the public streets and roads[.]”
After an ACLU-HI lawsuit, MAUI COUNTY revised its rules relating to signs held during parades and protests: https://acluhi.org/2013/10/28/aclu-of-hawaii-settles-1st-amendment-lawsuit-maui-county-to-amend-rules/
State D.O.T. rules, H.A.R. § 19-103-4, http://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/files/2012/12/HAR19-103.pdf
City rules regarding signs, R.O.H. §§ 21-7.20, 21-7.60(b), 29-14.1, https://www.honolulu.gov/rep/site/ocs/roh/ROH_Chapter_21_art7-9.pdf; https://www.honolulu.gov/rep/site/ocs/roh/ROH_Chapter_29.pdf
Can I distribute handbills? Distributing handbills on public sidewalks or in parks is generally allowed without a permit. However, the City has rules that restrict handbilling in certain areas of Waikiki.
R.O.H. § 29-7, https://www.honolulu.gov/rep/site/ocs/roh/ROH_Chapter_29.pdf
Can I put a small table on a public sidewalk? You are allowed to have a table (or another piece of portable furniture) on the sidewalk to display literature or other expressive material. Your table may not block the sidewalk and each person’s table can be no bigger than 5’ x 2’ (or a total of 10 square feet).
You are allowed to place a table on state property without a permit for the distribution of literature. However, you may obtain a permit in order to reserve a specific space on state property. For information about obtaining a permit to use state property, please see the applicable section below.
R.O.H. § 29-18.4(i), https://www.honolulu.gov/rep/site/ocs/roh/ROH_Chapter_29.pdf
State park rules, H.A.R § 13-7, http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/files/2015/04/13-7.pdf
ACLU of Nevada v. City of Las Vegas, 466 F.3d 784 (9th Cir. 2006)
Can I use chalk on a public sidewalk? It’s unclear, but if you’re told you can’t, contact us.
Mackinney v. Nielsen, 69 F.3d 1002 (9th Cir. 1995)
Can I use amplified sound? Generally no, unless you have a permit.
On sidewalks, the rules seem to indicate that, during the day and early evening, you can play musical instruments (including banging coffee cans or drums) and use a bullhorn with­out a permit; however, there are complicated zoning rules that set overall noise levels, and the City Council is considering new laws that may restrict bullhorns and instruments. If a police officer tells you that you must quiet down, follow the officer’s directions and contact our office. On sidewalks, streets, and parks, you may not use a radio, tape recorder, cassette play­er, or other device for reproducing sound if the sound may be heard more than 30 feet away.
For First Amendment activities in parks, the City does not require permits for playing musical in­struments and does not limit the playing of musi­cal instruments to certain designated locations.
You cannot make loud noises (like explosives) within 500 feet of a hospital.
City Land Use Ordinance, R.O.H. § 21-4.80, https://www.honolulu.gov/rep/site/ocs/roh/ROH_Chapter_21_art_4-6.pdf
City park rules, R.O.H. §§ 10-1.2(b)(6) and (8), https://www.honolulu.gov/rep/site/ocs/roh/ROH_Chapter_10_.pdf
City rules regarding noise, R.O.H. Ch. 41; see §§ 41-5.1 (hospitals) and 41-31.1 (devices for reproducing sound), http://www.honolulu.gov/rep/site/ocs/roh/ROHChapter41a1_25.pdf#4, http://www.honolulu.gov/rep/site/ocs/roh/ROHChapter41a26_42.pdf#8
City rules regarding sound amplifying devices in buildings, R.O.H. § 40-7.1, http://www.honolulu.gov/rep/site/ocs/roh/ROHChapter40.pdf#7
Can I have an overnight demonstration, at a park, even if it is closed at night and does not allow camping? No. If a park prohibits camping, then it prohibits camping for everybody. Some parks do allow overnight camping with a permit, though. Also, some public spaces are open 24 hours a day, like public sidewalks.
Can I sleep on the sidewalk? It’s not entirely clear whether you can do this without a permit. As you plan your event, contact the City’s Department of Transportation Services at (808) 768-8391. Problems? Contact us.
City sidewalk rules, R.O.H. § 29-18.1 et seq., http://www.honolulu.gov/rep/site/ocs/roh/ROHChapter29.pdf#43
Can I put a tent on public property? You cannot put a tent in a City park or on State grounds (e.g., the Capitol) without a permit.
City rules regarding sidewalks, R.O.H. § 29-8.1, http://www.honolulu.gov/rep/site/ocs/roh/ROHChapter29.pdf#23
City park rules regarding tents, R.O.H. § 10-1.2, http://www.honolulu.gov/rep/site/ocs/roh/ROHChapter10.pdf
State rules regarding temporary structures and shelters, H.A.R. § 3-111-22, http://ags.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/adm_s.pdf
Can a protest “occupy” a public building? You generally cannot be inside a public building after it has closed to the public. You don’t get to ignore the rules simply because you are engaged in a First Amendment activity.
Do police have to give me a warning before I’m arrested? Not always. Police need probable cause to believe that you have committed a crime in order to arrest you. If a police officer sees you breaking the law, that’s generally enough to allow the officer to cite or arrest you.
Can I engage in civil disobedience? You may want to conduct your protest in a manner that violates the law or a police order because you feel that only such action will be effective. That is your decision and thousands of others – from Gandhi to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – have done so in the past, but those who engage in such are still breaking the law, and must expect to be arrested and prosecuted. No lawyer or organization such as the ACLU can advocate a deliberate illegal act.
If I get arrested, and I “go limp,” is that still considered “resisting arrest”? Probably not, but if you use any sort of physical force against the officer, you can be charged with another crime like resisting arrest.
State law regarding resisting arrest, H.R.S. § 710-1026
Can I carry a fake gun? Not if it looks anything remotely like a real gun (unless you are involved in a “living history presentation or other activity for historical interpretation or educational purposes” or you are participating in a parade with “an established historical organization, museum, military preservation organization,” or other similar group). This can be very dangerous for you, because law enforcement may respond as if it is a real weapon.
City rules regarding replica guns, R.O.H. § 40-23.1 et seq., http://www.honolulu.gov/rep/site/ocs/roh/ROHChapter40.pdf#20
Can I wear a mask as part of a protest? Yes, unless you are concealing your identity while committing a crime (or trying to evade capture after committing a crime).
City rules regarding masks or disguises, R.O.H. § 40-22.1, et seq., http://www.honolulu.gov/rep/site/ocs/roh/ROHChapter40.pdf#20
What are the penalties if I get arrested? It depends on the charges. It could be a small fine, jail time, and/or community service (for something like disorderly conduct), or it could be a serious prison term (for something like assaulting a police officer).
Can government limit access to public spaces to impede demonstrations (closing roads leading to public spaces, putting up screens or buffer zones, etc)? Whether or not the government can do so often depends on the specific area being closed and the specific facts leading to the closure. If you think your rights have been violated, confidentially contact the ACLU of Hawaii.
Do government employees have free speech rights? YES. This was clarified for state and county workers in a lawsuit settlement by the ACLU of Hawaii: https://acluhi.org/2013/10/28/aclu-of-hawaii-settles-1st-amendment-lawsuit-maui-county-to-amend-rules/
PERMITS – do I need one? MAYBE.
The answer depends largely on three factors:
(3) Where do you plan to protest? See guide:
Permits – What About:
City rules regarding pedestrians, R.O.H. § 15-17.2(b), http://www.honolulu.gov/ocs/roh/rohhome/193-site-ocs-cat/968-roh-chapter-15.html
City park guidelines for First Amendment activities: http://www.honolulu.gov/rep/site/dpr/dpr_docs/firstamendmentactivities.pdf; http://www1.honolulu.gov/parks/parkuse.htm
The ACLU recently settled a case with the Department of Accounting and General Services to clarify rules for permits and to make it easier for people to engage in expressive activity. https://acluhi.org/2014/09/18/state-settles-lawsuit-will-revise-rules-for-demonstrations-at-state-capitol-and-other-state-properties/. DAGS will be updating its forms and rules to reflect these changes shortly. Some of the changes include:
Permit application form, http://ags.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/special_use_permit_and_instructions_jan-2011.pdf
Fort DeRussy rules, Dept. of the Army Policy Memo Installation-1, Discipline, Law & Order, p.15-17: http://www.garrison.hawaii.army.mil/command/policies/Policy%20Memorandum%20Installation-1,%20Discipline,%20Law,%20and%20Order.pdf
Use Permit Application: http://ccserver.caps.hawaii.edu/virtualEMS/ or http://www.hawaii.edu/apis/apm/a1200p/genforms/a1200attb.pdf
Regulations: http://www.hawaii.edu/campuscenter/services/documents/reservationsregulations.pdf
http://studentaffairs.manoa.hawaii.edu/downloads/conduct_code/UHM_Student_Conduct_Code.pdf
Permits Quick Reference & FAQ:
City park, three business days.
A march or parade on a City street, five business days.
Fort DeRussy, 48 hours.
Other federal property, the process takes a few days.
State property, fourteen business days in advance; if you are interested in having an event on State property in fewer than fourteen business days, contact us.
State Buildings/Grounds rules, H.A.R. § 3-111-26, http://ags.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/adm_s.pdf (14 business days)
City Park rules, Ft. DeRussy rules, Parade and federal rules
What about spontaneous protests? If something happens in the news, and you want to have an event right away (and there’s no time to get a permit): you can generally have a demonstration in City parks and at Fort DeRussy, you just need to give as much notice as possible to the City Department of Parks & Recreation, for parks, or to the Hale Koa manager, for Fort DeRussy (see “Where to apply”). If you choose to obtain a permit for a spontaneous protest on State property, DAGS must waive the advance-notice requirement and grant the permit (unless another group has already been granted a permit for the same location).
State property (e.g., the State Capitol): contact the Department of Accounting and General Services (“DAGS”) at (808) 586-0400. The permit form is found at http://ags.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/special_use_permit_and_instructions_jan-2011.pdf. Additional information about permitting is available at http://ags.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/CM2010-08.pdf.
Frequently Asked Questions – Permits
How do I know who controls the property where I want to have my demonstration (City, State, or federal government)? If you don’t see a sign that says who controls the property, you can call the City parks department at (808) 768-3003 to ask who controls the property. You can also try looking it up on the Internet.
Do I need to pay the City to get a park/parade permit? Generally, no. If you want a permit for a City park, you don’t have to pay an application fee.
If I don’t get a permit, what will happen? It’s possible that the police may cite you (or arrest you) for not having a permit. If you hear the police order you to disperse, and you don’t, you will probably be arrested. If you believe the police wrongfully shut down your demonstration, contact us.
Hawaii, Kauai and Maui Counties
Transportation Agency: http://www.kauai.gov/Government/Departments/CommunityAssistance/TransportationAgency/tabid/58/Default.aspx.
Planning Department: http://www.kauai.gov/Government/Departments/PlanningDepartment/tabid/61/Default.aspx.
SPECIAL SECTION: Your rights to document in public & law enforcement encounters
In Hawaii, generally, you can take photographs or video/audio recordings of the police, so long as you do not interfere with the police officers’ duties.
–> If an officer stops you for photography, the right question to ask is, “am I free to go?” If the officer says no, then you are being detained, something that an officer cannot do without reasonable suspicion that you have or are about to commit a crime or are in the process of doing so. Until you ask to leave, your being stopped is considered voluntary.
State v. Graham, 70 Haw. 627 (1989)
State v. Okubo, 67 Haw. 197 (1984)
State law regarding violation of privacy in the second degree, H.R.S. § 711-1111(e)
See also: https://vae.witness.org/video-as-evidence-field-guide/ Video-as-evidence field guide. A resource for citizens, advocates and lawyers using video in human rights investigations and court cases at local, regional and international levels.
Special section: Know Your Rights: Interacting with Government Representatives on Social Media
https://acluhi.org/1stam-social-media/ (1/2019)
Rights of ADULTS age 18+ when encountering law enforcement in Hawaii:
Don’t resist, but never consent to searches of your car, house or person. Consenting can affect your rights later in court. You can’t be arrested for refusal to consent.
Don’t say anything or answer any questions without a lawyer’s counsel. Tell police your name, that you wish to remain silent and that you request a lawyer. Call your lawyer or a public defender:
Rights of YOUTH up to age 18 when encountering law enforcement in Hawaii:
Even if you are not driving, minors must give name & birth date. Drivers must show license, vehicle registration & proof of insurance. Minor passengers must give their name & birth date. Minors suspected of intoxicated driving face an automatic 180-day license suspension. If an officer suspects you’re intoxicated, they can arrest you. Police may not test you for drugs or alcohol without the consent of you or your legal guardian. You may request a sobriety test to prove your innocence.
Don’t resist, but never consent to searches. Consenting can affect your rights later in court. You can’t be arrested for refusal to consent. Police may search your car or “pat down” your clothes when they believe there is probable cause. Police may enter your home if an emergency exists (e.g. a person screaming). Upon arrest, police can search you & the area close by. In a building, this is usually just the room you’re in. If police say they have a search warrant, ask to see it. Searched at a public school? Board of Education rules (http://www.hawaiiboe.net/AdminRules/Pages/default.aspx – look for Ch. 19) give schools some authority to search students & lockers, but school officials still must follow the Constitution. Searched unfairly? Contact us!
It’s easy to think of probation officers like a social worker or even a friend: be careful. They have similar authority to police. Anything you say to them can be used against you.
Don’t say anything without a lawyer. Give your name, address & birth date, but respectfully decline to say more until your lawyer is there. At the state juvenile facility, public defenders are available weekdays. If released to a parent or guardian, Family Court will arrange for a public defender before your trial or you can hire a private attorney.
What if I’m approached by police in Hawaii, Kauai or Maui County?
(808) 244-6400, http://www.co.maui.hi.us/index.aspx?NID=122
(808) 244-6400, http://www.co.maui.hi.us/index.aspx?NID=235
(808) 244-6440, http://www.co.maui.hi.us/documents/18/Information%20Brochure.PDF
(808) 932-2950, http://www.hawaiipolice.com/wp-content/themes/hawaiipolice/forms/complaint-comm.html
http://www.kauai.gov/Government/BoardsandCommissions/PoliceCommission/tabid/272/Default.aspx
Quick reference: Useful contact information for protesters
ACLU of Hawaii:
Website and email: https://acluhi.org/, office@acluhawaii.org,Fax: (808) 522-5909