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6418• l . ORDINANCE N0. 641 AN ORDINANCE FOR THE SAFETY AND PRESERVATION OF-LIFE AND PROPERTY DURING AND IN ANTICIPATION OF BLACKOUTS AND ENEMY ATTACKS OR RAIDS BY AIR OR LAND; AUTHORIZING THE APPOINT ME T OF A COMMITTEE TO BE KNOWN AS THE LITTLE ROCK COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY, AND PRESCRIBING ITS POWERS, DUTIES, AND OBLIGATIONS; AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO MAKE THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMTS WITH THE PROPER AUTHORITIES OF OTHER CITIES AND TOWNS WITHIN PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS, TO EFFECT THE SYNCHRONIZATION OF BLACKOUTS AND PROTECTION AGAINST EVEMY ATTACKS OR RAIDS; AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS ORDINANCE; PRO - VIDING PENALTIES FOR THE VIOT.ATION OF THIS ORDINANCE, OR OF ANY RULE OR REGULATION _ATED PURSUANT HERTTO; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS. Whereas, a state of war exists between the United States of America and Germany, Italy and Japan; and Whereas, the President of the United States has proclaimed that an invasion or predatory incursion is threatened; and Whereas, in the event of an enemy attack or invasion upon the United States, the City of Little Rock may be threatened with danger to the lives and property of its inhabitants, NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS: Section 1. An air raid warning signal shall consist of a series of short blasts from sirens, whistles, or other noise- making devices continuing for approx- i mat e]y two minutes. The all -clear signal shall consist of one long blast continuing for approximately two minutes. Section 2. In the event of an air raid warning: (a) The drivers of all automobiles and other free -wheel vehicles: (1) Shall immediately pull over to the curb or roadside, turn off the engines or motors, and leave such vehicles standing until the all -clear signal is given; provided that emergency vehicles readily identifiable as such, such as fire engines, ambulances, governmental or public utility operated trucks, police cars, physicians, automobiles and other vehicles carrying insignia approved and issued by the Little Rock Committee on Public Safety through the Police Department of the City—shall, not be required to stop when engaged in emergency operations. (2) Shall if the air raid warning is given between sunset and sunrise, immediately turn off all- lights and keep then turned off until the all -clear signal is given; provided that the emergency vehicles, as hereinbefore defined, shall not be required to turn off their lights if they are dimmed, hooded, or masked in a manner approved by the Little Rock Committee on Public Safety. In case of announced tests or trial blackouts such emergency wbhicles may proceed with lights on without being dimmed, hooded or masked. -2- (3) Shall not park in front of'any fire exit, fire plug, fire engine house, hospital-entrance, hotel entrance, or within a street intersection. (4) Shall not block the center of any street, or stop opposite to or so close to a street car as to impede the flow of traffic engaged in emergency operations. (b) The operators of all street cars and of such railroad trains or locomotives as are being operated within the limits of the City shall immediately bring them to a stop and.shall not proceed until the all -clear signal is given. If an air raid warning is sounded between sunset and sunrise such operators shall also immediately put out all lights and keep them out until the all -clear signal is given. No stops.shall be made so as to block any street intersection or the entrance to any fire engine house. Section 3. In the event an air raid warning is sounded between sunset and sunrise: (a) All lights outside or visible from the outside of any building, Whether through doors, windows, skylights, apertures, or otherwise, shall be imme- diately put out and kept out until the all -clear signal is given. Lights inside any, building may be turned on or kept on only where through the use of shades, blinds, curtains, blankets, screens, paint, paper, cardboard, or otherwise, no lighting is visible from the outside. This section shall apply to all buildings of every kind and description including, but not limited to, dwellings, residences, apartments, apt. houses, hotels, boarding houses, lodging houses, stores, office buildings, ware- houses, manufacturing establishments, industrial plants, railroad stations, schools, churches, hospitals, public buildings, and other structures. The occupant of any portion of a building shall be responsible for the observance of this ordi.iaance as to such portion thereof as he may occupy. If one occupies an entire building he shall be responsible for the observance of this rule as to the whole of such building. In case of hotels, office buildings, apartment houses, lodging houses, boarding houses, and other buildings to which the public is permitted or invited, or as to any portion of which there is a common use by the occupants thereof, the owner, lessee,.or the person or, persons in charge of the occupation thereof, as the case may be, shall be responsible for the observance of this rule as to all portions -of the building to which the public is permitted or invited, or as to thhich there is a common use by the occupants thereof. In the case of vacant buildings or vacant portions of build- ings the owner, the lessee, or the person or persons in charge thereof shall be responsible for the observance of this ordinance with respect to such vacant building or vacant portions thereof, as the case may be, as he shall own, lease, or have in charge. (b) No door, window, or other exit shall be opened if the opening of the same will permit light to be visible from the outside. (c) All lights on any sign, billboard, bridge, building, or other structure shall be immediately put out and kept out until the all -clear signal is given. The sso0. or throe,person or persons in charge of the operation of arq such sign, billboard, bridge, building, or other similar structure, as the case may be, shall be responsible for the observance of this ordinance. (d) All street, traffic, beacon, and other public lights on and in the streets, lanes, alleys, blocks, additions, and parks of Little Rock, excepting those which are dimmed or hooded in a manner approved by the Little Rock Committee on Public Safety, shall be immediately extinguished and kept out until the all -clear signal is given. Such extinguishment shall be made in accordance -with plans to be adopted by the Little Rock Committee on Public Safety. (e) All other lights, including warning or danger signals, shall be immediately extinguished and kept out until the all -clear signal is given; provided, that warning or danger signals may remain lighted in such manner and in such areas as may be approved by the Little Rock Committee on Public Safety. The owner, lessee, or the person or persons in charge of the operation of such lights, as the case may be, shall be responsible for the observance of this rule. Section 4. In order to effectively carry out the provisions of the fore- going sections: (a) No occupant of any building or of any portion thereof shall permit such building or portion- thereof as he may occupy to be lighted or illuminated, i whether on the outside, or on the inside, in such way that such lighting or illund nation is visible from the outside, between sunset and sunrise unless, while so ,T. 1 g ed.or iLtvoinated, there is stationed in such lighted or illuminated portion thereof a person or persons capable of and responsible for extinguishing the lights or making them invisible from the outside in the event an air raid warning or signal for a blackout is given. This section shall apply to every occupant of aqy bvdlding whatsoever, including, but not limited to, dwellings, residences, apartments, apart- ment houses, hotels, boarding houses, lodging houses, stores, office buildings, warehouses, manufacturing establishments, industrial plants, railroad stations, schools, churches, hospitals, public buildings, and other structures. In the case of hotels, office buildings, apartment houses, lodging houses, boarding houses, and -4- other buildings to which the public is. permitted or invited, or as to anq portion of which there is a common use by the occupants thereof, the owner, lessee, or the person or persons in charge of the operation thereof, as the case may be, shall be responsible for the observance of this section as to all portions of the building to which the public'is permitted or invited or as to which there is a common use by the occupants thereof. In the case of jacant buildings or vacant portions of 'a ro:A easee, er the person or persons in charge tbere©f i shall be responsible for the observance of this section with respect to such vacant build- ing or vacant portions thereof, as the case may be, as he shall own, lease, or have in his charge. (b) No owner, lessee, or person or persons in charge of the operation, as the case may be, of.any sign, billboard, bridge, or similar structure, street, traffic, or beacon light, or other public light, or have in the streets, lanes, alleys, blocks, additions, parks, or bridges of Little Rock, or of any other light, including warning or danger signal, shall permit the same to be illuminated or lighted between sunset and sunrise unless such owner, lessee, or person in charge has made adequate arrangements for immediately extinguishing the same in the event as air raid or blackout signal or alarm, provided, however,.that street lights, traffic lights, beacon lights, warning or danger signals may remain lighted during a blackout if they are dimmed, hooded, or masked in a manner approved by the Little Rock Committee on Public Safety. Provided, however, such street lights, traffic lights, beacon lights, or warning and danger signals may remain lighted between the hours of sunset and sunrise until the Mayor shall have promulgated and pub- lisped regulations for the extinguishment, dimming, or hooding of said lights. Section 5. No person shall utter, publish, sound, or otherwise simulate any warning of an enemy attack, arq warning of any test or trial blackout, any signal of the end of an attack or blackout, or any other official signal, unless anthmrised to do so by the Little Rock Committee on Public Safety. Section 6. This ordinance shall apply to air raids and to blackouts, including tests or trial blackouts. E,. Section 7. The Mayor, as the chief executive officer and conservator of the peace of the City, is hereby authorized to make and promulgates from time to time, such rules and regulations as he may deem expedient in the public interest and in aid of civilian defense and safety, for the proper administration of the provisions of the ordinance. Such rules and regulations shall become effective I ' I k t b f • immediately upon their adoption and approval by the City Council of Little Rock. Section S. The Mayor is authorised and directed to appoint a. committee consisting of as many members as he may deem advisable to be known as the Little Rock Committee on Public Safety. The Mayor shall designate one of the members of said committee to act as its chairman. Said committee shall take such steps as it may deem appropriate to warn the inhabitante_:of the City of Little Rock of the M1 aprpach of eery aircraft or attack, to order blackouts, including tests or trial w,- t►uta at ench times and for such periods of time., as it may dee�it desirai e; ' at to render all possible aid and assistance to the inhabitants of the City of Little Rock in the event of an enemQ attack or air raid. In addition to the duties herein prescribed, the committee shall performs such other duties, as the Mayor may direct. Section 9. The Little Rock Committee on Public Safety is authorized and directed to at once make the necessary arrangements with the proper authorities of Pulaski County, and of the cities and towns within said County, to effect a synchro- nization of blackouts and protection against'enenr attacks or raids within such County. f Section 10. It is found and determined that the safety of lives and property t City of %#,ttle Rock will be greatl erod, and that the efforts of �° eaad i as ttl + .ties to * preserve peabe and 8ateguaid Ufe ' anti pry? therein can, and will be, nullified,,unless persons living and being within five miles of the Little Rock city limits observe and abide measures, laws, and regulations taken and promulgated for the preservation of lives and property within said city. The terms and provisions of this ordinance shall, therefore, apply with equal force to persons and property being and situated within five miles of.the limits of the City of Little Rock. Such persons and property shall be subject to the orders, jurisdictions supervision, and control of the Little Rock Committee on Public Safety, and of Ats NVor and civil authorities, and persons within said area shall be subject rte the malties prescribed in Section 11 hereof. Section 11. The violation of any section of this ordinance, or the failure to comply with any rules and regulations made and promulgated by the MWor WoRant to the authority herein vested in him, and approved by the City Council,, err t1bo failure to .comply with any orders or directions of the Little Rock Committee on Public Safety, when said orders are made or given pursuant to the provisions of this ordinance, is hereby declared to be a misdemeanor, and shall' be punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.00, or by imprisonment for not more than twelve months, or by both such fine and imprisonment; a second offense shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000.00., or by imprisonment for not more than twelve months, or by both such An* ' and mOlsoment. -6- Section 12. Each separate provision of this ordinance shall be deemed independent of all other provisions herein, and if any provisions hereof be declared to be invalid, all other provisions shall remain valid and enforceable. Section 13. In view of the imminence of attack upon Little Rock, and the consequent necessity of safeguarding the lives and property of the people of Little Rack, an emergency is hereby declared to exists aud,this ordinance shall be in full w of er its 8 Ofrowal _according to its terms, ROW Passed: ^ . pril 13, 1942 Approved: _ Mayor Attest; 1 � .� �� b��� .�'' •1 5 '. y( ';n £ %"`y'� i