Opinion ID: 1345037
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: New York City Parades

Text: New York City Administrative Code (the Code) § 10-110 provides the statutory basis for the issuance of parade permits. The Police Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (the NYPD) is vested with the power to issue permits for any procession, parade, or race . . . [on] any street or in any public place. N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 10-110(a). The NYPD issues permits for approximately 700 parades per year in the five boroughs. The Code places qualifications upon the Commissioner's authority in various circumstances, two of which are relevant here. First, the Commissioner is not permitted to grant a permit for the use of any street or any public place, or material portion thereof, which is ordinarily subject to great congestion or traffic and is chiefly of a business or mercantile character. N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 10-110(a)(2). Second, [s]pecial permits for occasions of extraordinary public interest, not annual or customary, or not so intended to be, may be granted by the commissioner for any street or public place, and for any day or hour, with the written approval of the mayor. N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 10-110(a)(4) (the Special Permit Provision). In 2001, the City further limited the Commissioner's discretion in granting special permits by limiting these to celebrations organized by the City honoring the armed forces; sports achievements or championships; world leaders and extraordinary achievements of historic significance. 38 R.C.N.Y. § 19-01(b). The Code also provides for the consequences of a violation: Every person participating in any procession, parade or race, for which a permit has not been issued when required by this section, shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than twenty-five dollars, or by imprisonment for not exceeding ten days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 10-110(c) (the Violations Provision).