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Overview of the City of Miami Parade and Assembly Ordinance
Approved: November 13, 2003
Brief overview of the parade and assembly ordinance enacted November 13, 2003, which will be in effect during the FTAA meetings in Miami:
Purpose:
- The ordinance regulates materials that can be possessed during a parade or assembly. It is an attempt to grant police officers the authority to remove items from demonstrators that may be utilized as a weapon. Virtually any protest or demonstration during the FTAA summit in Miami will be covered.
What the Police May Do:
- The police may simply tell a demonstrator that an object is banned and that it must be put away, surrendered, or otherwise disposed of. Violation of the ordinance is a misdemeanor allowing the police to issue a criminal citation or make an arrest.
- The ordinance does not permit the police to search backpacks, cars, containers or individuals to determine whether someone has a prohibited item.
Banned Items:
- Weapons of any kind (guns, knives, and tools like hammers, axes, crowbars, etc.), including anything that is used or intended for use as a dangerous weapon.
- Glass containers (except for medication).
- Signs that are not constructed of plastic, cloth, cardboard or other flexible material less than 1/4 inch thick.
- Lumber or wood greater than 1/4 inch thick, or 2 inches wide, if rectangular, greater than 3/4 inch if round. Both ends must be blunt and not pointed. Wood utilized to construct or control puppets is exempted as long as it is attached to the puppet. Stilts are permitted up to 15 feet in length and no greater than 2 x 2 inches.
- Any length of metal, plastic or other hard materials except that hollow plastic pipe may be used to support signs or other displays so long as it does not exceed 3/4 inch in diameter and 1/8 inch in wall thickness. Both ends must be blunt and not pointed.
- Balloons if filled with anything other than air, oxygen or helium.
- Bricks, stones, rocks, pieces of concrete or asphalt. Anything hard that may be thrown and is carried with the intent to use unlawfully.
- Spray paint cans.
- Any device that is commonly used to launch, hurl, or throw any object, material, liquid or other substance. This includes water cannons and supersoakers. Water or other liquid for human consumption is excluded so long as not in glass containers.
- Sleeping Dragons.
