§ 66-5. Loitering.

(a)

Loitering or prowling. No person shall loiter or prowl in a place, at a time or in a manner not usual for law-abiding individuals under circumstances that warrant alarm for the safety of persons or property in the vicinity. Among the circumstances which may be considered in determining whether such alarm is warranted is the fact that the person takes flight upon appearance of a law enforcement officer, refuses to identify himself or manifestly endeavors to conceal himself or any object. Unless flight by the person or other circumstances makes it impracticable, a law enforcement officer shall, prior to any arrest for an offense under this section, afford the person an opportunity to dispel any alarm which would otherwise be warranted, by requesting him to identify himself and explain his presence and conduct. No person shall be convicted of an offense under this subsection if the law enforcement officer did not comply with the preceding sentence, or if it appears at trial that the explanation given by the person was true and, if believed by the law enforcement officer at the time, would have dispelled the alarm.

(b)

Obstruction of highway. No person shall obstruct any street, bridge, sidewalk or crossing by lounging or loitering in or upon the same after being requested to move on by any law enforcement officer.

(c)

Obstructing streets and sidewalks. No person shall stand, sit, loaf or loiter or engage in any sport or exercise on any public street, sidewalk, bridge or public ground within the village in such manner as to prevent or obstruct the free passage of pedestrian or vehicular traffic thereon or to prevent or hinder free ingress or egress to or from any place of business or amusement, church, public hall or meeting place.

(d)

Obstruction of traffic. No person shall loaf or loiter in groups or crowds upon the public streets, alleys, sidewalks, street crossing or bridges or in any other public places within the village in such manner as to prevent, interfere with or obstruct the ordinary free use of such public streets, sidewalks, streets, street crossings and bridges or other public places by persons passing along and over the same.

(e)

After being requested to move. No person shall loaf or loiter in groups or crowds upon the public streets, sidewalks or adjacent doorways or entrances, street crossings or bridges, or in any other public place or on any private premises without invitation from the owner or occupant, after being requested to move by any law enforcement officer or by any person in authority at such places.

(f)

In public places. No person shall loiter, lounge or loaf in or about any depot, theater, dancehall, restaurant, store, public sidewalk, public parking lot or other place of assembly or public use after being requested to move by any law enforcement officer. Upon being requested to move, a person shall immediately comply with such request by leaving the premises or area of such places at the time of the request.

(g)

In school and playground areas. No person, not in official attendance or on official school business, shall enter into, congregate, loiter, wander, stroll, stand or play in any school building or in or about any playground area adjacent thereto within the village between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on official school days.

(Code 1991, §§ 9.04, 9.12(1)—(5), (9))