§ 14-311. Picketing on rights-of-way; restrictions.

(a)

No person shall picket on the grounds of the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, the entire Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and the public beach.

(b)

No notice is required for picketing of less than 30 individuals, but the regulations in subsections 14-311(d) and (e) apply.

(c)

For purposes of police planning for safety, when the organizer knows, or should reasonably know if there will be a group of 30 or more individuals, he shall give notice of intent to picket to the chief of police or designee at least 48 hours before the beginning of the picket. There is no permit or cost associated with this notice. The notice of intent to picket shall include the following information:

(1)

The name, address and contact telephone number for the organizer of the picket;

(2)

The name, address and contact telephone number of the person giving notice of intent to picket if different from the organizer;

(3)

The name of the organization or group sponsoring the picket; the location where the picket is to take place;

(4)

The date and time the picket will begin and end; and the anticipated number of participants, and the basis on which this estimate is made.

(d)

Upon notice of intent to picket given in accordance with subsection (b), the chief of police or designee shall immediately issue a receipt of notice. The receipt shall contain all information stated in the notice. The organizer of a picket shall be responsible for maintaining the receipt, and shall present it when so requested by a law enforcement officer or other city official.

(e)

Regulations.

(1)

Regardless of the number of participants, picketing may be conducted only upon public sidewalks, on the grounds of any other city-controlled park, or other city-owned areas normally used or reserved for pedestrian movement, including easements and rights-of-way, and shall not be conducted on the portion of the public roadway used for vehicular traffic or parking, median strips, pedestrian safety islands, or on the public sidewalk in front of a private residence.

(2)

Picketing shall not disrupt, block, obstruct or interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic or the free passage of pedestrian or vehicular traffic into any driveway, pedestrian entrance, or other access to buildings, which abut the public sidewalks.

(3)

Written or printed placards or signs, flags, or banners carried by individuals engaged in picketing shall be not greater than 16 square feet of non-rigid media, as to allow safe and unobstructed passage of pedestrian or vehicular traffic. The staff or pole on which a sign, flag, or banner may be carried shall be made of corrugated material, plastic, or wood, and shall not exceed 40 inches in length and no part of the sign shall not be made of metal or metal alloy. If made of wood, the staff or pole shall be no greater than three-fourths inch in diameter at any point. A staff or pole must be blunt at both ends.

(4)

If more than one group of picketers desire to picket at the same time at or near the same location, law enforcement officers may, without regard to the purpose or content of the message, assign each group a place to picket in order to preserve the public peace. Members of a group shall not enter an area assigned to another group. Priority of location shall be based upon which group of picketers arrived first.

(5)

Spectators of pickets shall not physically interfere with individuals engaged in picketing. Picketers and spectators of pickets shall not speak fighting words or threats that would tend to provoke a reasonable person to a breach of the peace, or engage in disorderly conduct.

(6)

Picketers and picketing shall be subject to all applicable local, state and federal laws.

(f)

Nothing in this section prohibits a law enforcement officer from issuing a command to disperse in accordance with in the event of a riot, breach of the peace or disorderly conduct by an assemblage of 3 or more persons.

(Ord. No. 2012-51, 8-28-12; Ord. No. 2013-27, 6-11-13; Ord. No. 2013-55, 8-27-13)