Zoneomics Logo
search icon

Altoona City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 40

PUBLIC PEACE

40.01 ASSAULT.

   No person shall, without justification, commit any of the following:
   1.   Pain or Injury. Any act that is intended to cause pain or injury to another or that is intended to result in physical contact that will be insulting or offensive to another, coupled with the apparent ability to execute the act.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 708.1(1))
   2.   Threat of Pain or Injury. Any act that is intended to place another in fear of immediate physical contact which will be painful, injurious, insulting, or offensive, coupled with the apparent ability to execute the act.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 708.1(2))
   An act described in Subsections 1 and 2 shall not be an assault under the following circumstances: (i) if the person doing any of the enumerated acts, and such other person, are voluntary participants in a sport, social or other activity, not in itself criminal, and such act is a reasonably foreseeable incident of such sport or activity, and does not create an unreasonable risk of serious injury or breach of the peace; (ii) if the person doing any of the enumerated acts is employed by a school district or accredited nonpublic school, or is an area education agency staff member who provides services to a school or school district, and intervenes in a fight or physical struggle or other disruptive situation that takes place in the presence of the employee or staff member performing employment duties in a school building, on school grounds, or at an official school function, regardless of the location, whether the fight or physical struggle or other disruptive situation is between students or other individuals, if the degree and the force of the intervention is reasonably necessary to restore order and to protect the safety of those assembled.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 708.1)

40.02 HARASSMENT.

   No person shall commit harassment.
   1.   A person commits harassment when, with intent to intimidate, annoy, or alarm another person, the person does any of the following:
      A.   Communicates with another by telephone, telegraph, writing, or via electronic communication without legitimate purpose and in a manner likely to cause the other person annoyance or harm.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 708.7)
      B.   Places any simulated explosive or simulated incendiary device in or near any building, vehicle, airplane, railroad engine or railroad car, or boat occupied by the other person.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 708.7)
      C.   Orders merchandise or services in the name of another, or to be delivered to another, without such other person’s knowledge or consent.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 708.7)
      D.   Reports or causes to be reported false information to a law enforcement authority implicating another in some criminal activity, knowing that the information is false, or reports the alleged occurrence of a criminal act, knowing the same did not occur.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 708.7)
   2.   A person commits harassment when the person, purposefully and without legitimate purpose, has personal contact with another person, with the intent to threaten, intimidate or alarm that other person. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, “personal contact” means an encounter in which two or more people are in visual or physical proximity to each other. “Personal contact” does not require a physical touching or oral communication, although it may include these types of contacts.

40.03 DISORDERLY CONDUCT.

   No person shall do any of the following:
   1.   Fighting. Engage in fighting or violent behavior in any public place or in or near any lawful assembly of persons, provided that participants in athletic contests may engage in such conduct that is reasonably related to that sport.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 723.4(1)(a))
   2.   Noise. Make loud and raucous noise in the vicinity of any residence or public building which intentionally or recklessly causes unreasonable distress to the occupants thereof.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 723.4(1)(b))
   3.   Abusive Language. Direct abusive epithets or make any threatening gesture that the person knows or reasonably should know is likely to provoke a violent reaction by another.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 723.4(1)(c))
   4.   Disrupt Lawful Assembly. Without lawful authority or color of authority, disturb any lawful assembly or meeting of persons by conduct intended to disrupt the meeting or assembly.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 723.4(1)(d))
   5.   False Report of Catastrophe. By words or action, initiate or circulate a report or warning of fire, epidemic, or other catastrophe, knowing such report to be false or such warning to be baseless.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 723.4(1)(e))
   6.   Disrespect of Flag. Knowingly and publicly use the flag of the United States in such a manner as to show disrespect for the flag as a symbol of the United States, with the intent or reasonable expectation that such use will provoke or encourage another to commit trespass or assault. As used in this subsection:
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 723.4(1)(f))
      A.   “Deface” means to intentionally mar the external appearance.
      B.   “Defile” means to intentionally make physically unclean.
      C.   “Flag” means a piece of woven cloth or other material designed to be flown from a pole or mast.
      D.   “Mutilate” means to intentionally cut up or alter so as to make imperfect.
      E.   “Show disrespect” means to deface, defile, mutilate, or trample.
      F.   “Trample” means to intentionally tread upon or intentionally cause a machine, vehicle, or animal to tread upon.
   7.   Funeral or Memorial Service. Within 1,000 feet of the building or other location where a funeral or memorial service is being conducted, or within 1,000 feet of a funeral procession or burial:
      A.   Make loud and raucous noise that causes unreasonable distress to the persons attending the funeral or memorial service or participating in the funeral procession.
      B.   Direct abusive epithets or make any threatening gesture that the person knows or reasonably should know is likely to provoke a violent reaction by another.
      C.   Disturb or disrupt the funeral, memorial service, funeral procession, or burial by conduct intended to disturb or disrupt the funeral, memorial service, funeral procession, or burial.
   This subsection applies to conduct within 60 minutes preceding, during, and within 60 minutes after a funeral, memorial service, funeral procession, or burial.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 723.5)

40.04 FAILURE TO DISPERSE.

   A peace officer may order the participants in a riot or unlawful assembly or persons in the immediate vicinity of a riot or unlawful assembly to disperse. No person within hearing distance of such command shall refuse to obey.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 723.3)

40.05 PEEPING; LOITERING.

   It is unlawful to loiter on the public sidewalks, streets, or alleys of the City, or on any private property, with the intent to peep, or in the act of peeping, spying, or looking into the windows of dwellings, apartments, homes, or any private place whether in close proximity thereto or not.

40.06 DISORDERLY HOUSE.

   1.   Disorderly House Defined: for the purpose of this section, the term “disorderly house” means and includes any building, house, enclosure, or place in or upon which occurs any of the following prohibited activities:
      A.   Disorderly conduct as defined in Section 40.03;
      B.   Any noise in violation of the provisions set forth in Chapter 58;
      C.   The open storage, use, or consumption of a controlled substance as defined in Chapter 124 of the Code of Iowa, under which possession of such substance would be an offense;
      D.   Gambling in violation of Chapter 99B of the Code of Iowa;
      E.   Dispensing, selling, or consumption of an alcoholic beverage in violation of Chapter 123 of the Code of Iowa;
      F.   Acts of prostitution, pimping, or pandering as defined in Chapter 725 of the Code of Iowa;
      G.   Engaging in a massage business without a license or any other illegal acts as specified in Chapter 152C of the Code of Iowa;
      H.   Illegal use of fireworks and individual, owner, lessee, renter, proprietor, or any other person with control of the real property to allow, permit, host, consent to, or facilitate the use or exploding of consumer or display fireworks without a permit.
   2.   Prohibited. No person (individual, owner, lessee, renter, proprietor, or any other person with control of the real property) shall knowingly keep, maintain, operate, or be concerned in keeping, maintaining, or operating within the City any disorderly house; nor shall any person knowingly own or be interested as a proprietor or landlord in any such place.
   3.   Authority to Restore Order and Disperse; Failure to Disperse. Upon issuance of a citation for a violation of this section, any peace officer of the City shall have the authority to restore order upon the subject premises, up to and including ordering the dispersal of persons from the subject premises. Any person who fails or refuses to obey and abide by such an order shall be guilty of a violation of this section.
   4.   Penalty.
      A.   Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a simple misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished in accordance with Section 1.14.
      B.   Any repeat violation of this subsection by a property owner or tenant may be considered a municipal infraction and punished in accordance with Chapter 3.