Chapter 320.
2,683 words·~12 min read·
/statutes-at-large/vol-27/chapter-320-1323742·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
CHAP. 320.— An act for the preservation of the public peace and the protection of property within the District of Columbia.July 29, 1892. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,District of Columbia. Injury, etc., to public and private property forbidden. That it shall not be lawful for any person or persons to destroy, injure, disfigure, cut, chip, break, deface, or cover, or rub with or otherwise place filth or excrement of any kind upon any property, public or private, in the District of Columbia, or any public or private building, statue, monument, office, dwelling, or structure of any kind, or which may be in course of erection, or the doors, windows, steps, railing, fencing, balconies, balustrades, stairs, porches, or halls, or the walls or sides, or the walls of any enclosure thereof; or to write, mark, or paint obscene or indecent words or language thereon, or to draw, paint, mark, or write obscene or indecent figures representing obscene or indecent objects; or to write, mark, draw, or paint any other word, sign, or figure thereon, without the consent of the owner or proprietor thereof, or, in case of public property, Penalty.of the person having charge, custody, or control thereof, under a penalty of not more than fifty dollars for each and every such offense.
Sec. 2. That it shall not lie lawful for any person or persons to destroy,Destruct ion of building material, etc., forbidden. break, cut, disfigure, deface, burn, or otherwise injure any building materials, or materials intended for the improvement of any street, avenue, alley, foot pavement, roads, highways, or enclosure, whether public or private property, or remove the same (except in pursuance of law or by consent of the owner) from the place where the same may be collected for purposes of building or improvement as aforesaid; or to remove, cut, destroy, or injure any scaffolding, ladder, or other thing Penalty.used in or about Such building or improvement, under a penalty of not more than twenty-five dollars for each and every such offense.
Sec. 3. That it shall not be lawful for any person or persons withinThrowing stones, etc., forbidden. the District of Columbia to throw any stone or other missile in any street, avenue, alley, road, or highway, or open space, or public square, of enclosure, or to throw any stone or other missile from any place into any street, avenue, road, or highway, alley, open space, public square, Penalty.or enclosure, under a penalty of not more than five dollars for every such offense.
Sec. 4. That it shall not be lawful for any person or persons to setFiring kites, etc.. forbidden. up or fly any kite, or set up or fly any the balloon or parachute in or upon or over any street, a venue, alley, open space, public enclosure, or square within the limits of the cities of Washington and Georgetown, 323 under a penalty of not more than ten dollars for each and every suchPenalty. offense. Sec. 5. That it shall not be lawful for any person or persons to curse,Cursing. disorderly conduct, etc., forbidden. swear, or make use of any profane language or any indecent or obscene words, or engage in any disorderly conduct in any street, avenue, public space, square, road, or highway, or at any railroad depot or steamboat landing within the District of Columbia, or in any place where from the same may be heard in any such street, avenue, alley, public square, road, highway, or in any such depot, railroad cars, or on board any steamboat, under a penalty of not exceeding twenty dollars forPenalty. each and every such offense.
Sec. 6. That it shall not be lawful for any person or persons withinBoisterous assemblages, etc., forbidden. the District of Columbia to congregate and assemble at the corners of any of the streets or avenues, or in any street, avenue, or alley, road, or highway, or on the foot pavements or flag footways of any street or avenue, or at the entrance or on the steps, cellar doors, porches, or porticos of any public or private building or office, or at the entrance of any public or private building or office, or at the entrance, or in, on, or around any of the enclosures of the Capitol, Executive Mansion, public squares, District buildings, Judiciary square, or at the entrance of any church, schoolhouse, theater, or any assembly room, or in or around the same, or any other public or private enclosure within the said District, and be engaged in loud or boisterous talking, or to insult or make rude or obscene comments or remarks or observations on persons passing by the same, or in their hearing, or to so crowd, obstruct, or incommode the said foot pavement or flag footway, or the entrance into or out of any such church, public or private dwelling, city hall, Executive Mansion, Capitol, or such public enclosure, square or alley, highway or road, as to prevent the free and uninterrupted passage thereof, under a penalty of not more than twenty-five dollars for each and everyPenalty. such offense.
Sec. 7. That it shall not be lawful for any prostitute or lewd womanEnticing prostitution on the streets, etc., forbidden. to invite, entice, persuade, or to address for the purpose of inviting, enticing, or persuading any person or persons, in or upon any avenue, street, road, highway, open space, alley, public square, or enclosure in the District of Columbia, to accompany, go with, or follow her to her residence, or to any other house or building, enclosure, or other place, for the purpose of prostitution, under a penalty, if the person so invited,Penalty, it person addressed an adult. enticed, or persuaded, or addressed for the purpose of inviting, enticing, or persuading shall be an adult, of not more than twenty-five dollars for each and every such offense, and if the person invited, enticed, or persuaded, or addressed for the purpose of inviting, enticing, or persuading be a minor, under a penalty of no more than fifty dollarsIf a minor. for each and every such offense.
And it shall not be lawful for any prostitute or woman of lewd character to invite, entice, or persuade, orEnticing prostitution from a house. address for the purpose of inviting, enticing, or persuading any person or persons from any door, window, porch, or portico of any house or building to enter any house, or go with, accompany, or follow her to any place whatever, for the purpose of prostitution, under the like penaltiesPenalties. herein provided for the same disorderly conduct in the streets, avenues, roads, highways, or alleys, public squares, open places or enclosures.
Sec. 8. That all vagrants, idle and disorderly persons, persons ofVagrants, prostitutes, etc., to give bond for good behavior. evil life and fame, persons who have no visible means of support, persons who are likely to become chargeable to the District of Columbia as paupers, or drunk in or about any of the streets, avenues, alleys, roads, or highways, or public places within the District of Columbia, or loitering in or about tippling houses, all suspicious persons who have no fixed place of residence or can not give a good account of themselves, persons guilty of open profanity or grossly indecent language in or on any of the streets, avenues, alleys, public places, roads, or highways of said District; all public prostitutes, and all such persons who lead a 324 notoriously lewd or lascivious course of life, shall, upon conviction thereof before the police court of said District, be required to enter into security for their good behavior for the space of six calendar Penalty of recognizances.months.
Said security shall be in the nature of a recognizance to the District of Columbia, to be approved by said court in a penalty not exceeding two hundred dollars, conditioned that the offender shall not, for the space of six months, repeat the offense with which he is charged, and shall in other respects conduct himself properly. Sec. 9. That it shall not be lawful for any person or persons to makeIndecent exposure forbidden. any obscene or indecent exposure of his or her person or their persons in any street, avenue, or alley, road, or highway, open space, public square, or enclosure in the District of Columbia, or to make any such obscene or indecent exposure of person in any dwelling or other building or other place where from the same may be seen in any street, avenue, alley, road, or highway, open space, public square, or enclosure, Penalty.under a penalty not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars for each and every such offense.
Sec. 10. That it shall not be lawful for any person or persons to entice,Causing dogs to fight forbidden. induce, urge, or cause any dogs to engage in a fight in any street, alley, road, or highway, open space, or public square in the District of Columbia, or to urge, entice, or cause Penalty.such dogs to continue or prolong such tight, under a penalty of not more than five dollars for each and every offense; and any person or persons who shall induce or cause Setting dogs on persons or animals forbidden.any animal of the dog kind to run after, bark at, frighten, or bite any person, horse, or horses, cows, cattle of any kind, or other animals lawfully passing along or standing in or on any street, avenue, road, or Penalty.highway, or alley in the District of Columbia, shall forfeit and pay for every such offense a sum not exceeding five dollars.
Sec. 11. That it shall not be lawful for any person or persons toDisturbing religious services in churches. molest or disturb any congregation engaged in any religious exercise or proceedings in any church or place of worship in the District of Arrests.Columbia; and it shall be lawful for any of the authorities of said churches to arrest or cause to be arrested any person or persons so offending, and take him, her, or them to the nearest police station, to be there Penalty.held for trial; and any person or persons violating the provisions of this section shall forfeit and pay a fine of not more than one hundred dollars for every such offense.
Sec. 12. That it shall not be lawful for any person or persons to ridePast riding and driving forbidden. or drive any animal of the horse kind in or on any street, avenue, or alley of the cities of Washington or Georgetown at a rate of speed exceeding eight miles per hour, nor cause any such animal to turn any corner within the said cities at a rate of speed exceeding four miles per hour, nor to ride or drive any such animal in or on any road or highway in that part of the District of Columbia lying outside of said cities Penalty.at a rate of speed exceeding twelve miles per hour.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this act shall forfeit and pay a fine or penalty of not more than twenty-five dollars for each and every such offense. Sec. 13. That it shall not be lawful for any person or persons to girdle,Injuring trees, etc., forbidden. break, wound, destroy, or in any manner injure any of the trees now growing or planted and set, or which may hereafter be planted and set on any of the public grounds, open spaces, or squares or on any private lot, or on any of the streets, or avenues, roads or highways, in the District of Columbia, or any of the boxes, stakes, or any other Penalty.protection thereof, under a penalty of not exceeding fifty dollars for each and every such offense: and if any person or persons shall tie or in any Fastening horses to trees, etc., forbidden.manner fasten a horse or horses to any of the trees, boxes, or other protection thereof on any streets or avenues, roads or highways, on any of the public grounds belonging to the United States, or on any of the streets, avenues, or alleys, in the District of Columbia, each and every Penalty.such offender shall forfeit and pay for each offense a sum not exceeding ten dollars. 325 Sec. 14.
That it shall not be lawful for any person or persons withinKindling bonfires forbidden. the limits of the District of Columbia to kindle or set on fire, or be present, aiding, consenting, or causing it to be done, in any street, avenue, road, or highway, alley, open ground, or lot, any box, barrel, straw, shavings, or other combustible, between the setting and rising of the sun; and, any person offending against the provisions of this actPenalty. shall on conviction thereof, forfeit and pay a sum not exceeding ten dollars for each and every offense.
Sec. 15. That the provisions of the several laws and regulationsLaws, etc., for protecting property extended to public buildings and grounds. within the District of Columbia, for the protection of public or private property and the preservation of peace and order be, and the same are hereby, extended to all public buildings and public grounds belonging to the United States within the District of Columbia. And any person guilty of disorderly and unlawful conduct in or about the same, or whoDisorderly conduct, etc., in public buildings and grounds. shall willfully injure the buildings or shrubs, or shall pull down, impair, or otherwise injure any fence, wall, or other enclosure, or shall injure any sink, culvert, pipe, hydrant, cistern, lamp, or bridge, or shall remove any stone, gravel, sand, or other property of the United States, or any other part of the public grounds or lots belonging to the.
United States in the District of Columbia, shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined notPenalty. more than fifty dollars. Sec. 16. That if any person shall drive or lead any horse, mule, orDriving or riding on footways in public grounds forbidden. other animal, or any cart, wagon, or other carriage whatever on any of the paved or graveled footways now made or which may hereafter be made in and on any of the aforesaid public grounds, or shall ride thereon, except at the intersection of streets, alleys, and avenues, each and every such offender shall forfeit and pay for each offense a sum not less than one nor more than five dollars.
Sec. 17. That it shall not be lawful for any person or persons to playPlaying games of ball in streets, etc., forbidden. the game of football, or any other game with a ball, in any of the streets, avenues, or alleys in the cities of Washington and Georgetown; nor shall it be lawful for any person or persons to play the game of bandy, shindy, or any other game by which a ball, stone, or other substance is struck or propelled by any stick, cane, or other substance in any street, avenue, or alley in the cities of Washington and Georgetown, under a penalty of not more than five dollars for each and everyPenalty. such offense.
Sec. 18. That all prosecutions for violations of any of the provisionsProsecutions in name and benefit of the District. of any of the laws or ordinances provided for by this act shall be conducted in the name of and for the benefit of the District of Columbia, and in the same manner as now provided by law for the prosecution of offenses against the laws and ordinances of the said District. AnyCommittal on failure to pay fine. person convicted of any violation of any of the provisions of this act, and who shall fail to pay the tine or penalty imposed, or to give security where the same is required, shall be committed to the workhouse in the District of Columbia for a term not exceeding six months for each and every offense.
Sec. 19. That all laws or ordinances,Repeal. or parts of laws or ordinances, now in force in the District of Columbia inconsistent with the provisions of this act, or any part thereof, are hereby repealed. Approved, July 29, 1892.