HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 51-N&Act . l
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AN ORDINANCE
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING BLACKOUTS AND
AIR 'RAID PROTECTION ORDERS, RUIE S AND REGULA
TIONS:PRESCRIBING PENALTIES FOR- VIOLATION_
THEREOF: AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
-WHEREAS,-the United States_of America is now
engaged in a War with-foreign,powers and the de-
fense -'of ' our Nation is in -the hands of our Army
and Navy; and
WHEREAS, in modern warfare no city, however
distant from the.enemy, is free from attack; and
WHEREAS,.lights at night time are a definite
aid to the enemy in reaching military and other
objectives; and
WHEREAS, blackouts, -when ordered by the Army
or Navy are essential to the preservation of life
and property in this ,city, and 'it is imperative
that the City of BeaLunont aid the Army and Navy
by all possible cooperation and assistance; and
WHEREAS, failure to extinguish lights when
ordered to do so by duly authorized authorities
may result in loss of life by thousands of the
residents of the City of Beaumont as well as 'the
residents of other parts of the Nation when lights
are used as a guide to other objectives;
WHEREAS, failure to comply with orders, rules
and regulations governing evacuations, traffic
movements, congregation of persons in streets and
other public places will result in confusion and
unnecessary loss of life both during blackouts and
during air raids in the daytime,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF •BEADMONT:
Section 1.
In order to protect life and property in the City of
Beaumont from enemy action the Mayor is authorized and direct-
ed to carry out blackouts and air raid protection measures in
said city.at such times and for such periods as are ordered by
the Army or'Navy and to promulgate such orders, rules, and re-
gulation's as may be necessary to insure the success of the
blackouts and air raid protection measures and to protect life
and property during said periods. Provided that said orders,
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rules and regulations shall include traffic movements of
emergency or other vehicles, evacuation of residents, con-
gregation of persons on public streets, sidewalks, in public
places or buildings, but this enumeration shall not be taken
as a limitation on the powerto promulgate orders, rules,"re-
gulations governing any other subject, persons or property
which must be regulated in order to insure the proper carry-
ing out of any duly authorized blackout or air raid protect-
ion measure.
Section 2.
.The Chief,of Police may appoint for a specified time
as many special police, without pay, from among residents of
the City of Beaumont as may be deemed advisable for service
in 'connection with any blackout or air raid protection measure.
During the term of service of such special police, they shall
possess all the powers and privileges and perform all the duties
of regular Officers in the standing Police force of the City of
Beaumont. Said special Police must wear such identifying•emblem
as may be prescribed by the Chief of Police and it shall be un-
lawful for any said special policeman to attempt to carry out
any order; rule, or regulation promulgated under the authority .
conferred by this ordinance when he isnot wearing said -identify .
ing
aid identify
ing emblem.
Section 3.
This ordinance is an exercise by the City of its govern-
mental functions for the protection of the public peace, health,
and safety and neither the City of Beaumont or any individual
subject to regulations lawfully included herein or promulgated
pursuant to authority herein conferred shall be liable for any
damage sustained to person or property during, or as the result
of, an authorized blackout or air raid protection measure.
Sectica 4.
When deemed necessary in order to protect life or pro-
perty during a blackout or air raid the police, or the special
police authorized herein, are authorized and directed to
enter upon any premises within the City of Beaumont and. ex-
tinguish lights or take other necessary action .to make effect-
ive any order, rule, or regulation promulgated under the.auth-
ority conferred by this ordinance. --
Section 5.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the
provisions of this ordinance or any order, rule, or regulation
issued pursuant thereto shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor
and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not
exceeding Two Hundred ($200.00) Dollars.
Section 6.
It is the intention of the City rl that each
separate provision of this ordinance shall be deemed independ-
ent of all other provisions herein, and it is further the in-
tention of the City � that if any provision of this Act
be declared to be invalid, all other provisions thereof shall
remain valid and enforceable.
Section 7.
The fact that the passage of this ordinance is nec-
essary for the immediate preservation of the public health,
peace, and safety of the residents of the City of Beaumont,.in
that it is in the furtherance of the public welfare that immed-
iate steps be taken to enforce blackout and other regulations,
creates a great public emergency necessitating the suspension
of the rule requiring that all ordinances be read on three
several times before. their final passage, and- said rule is
hereby suspended and this ordinance shall be in full force and
effect from and after its passage.
PASSED by the affirmative vote of the City Commission
this the 6th day of January, A. D..1942.
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