HomeMy WebLinkAboutHistory of the Bozeman Police Dept_Chapter 05
Chapter. S
Ordinances of Beeinnin~
Ordinance No. S
Defining Nuisances within the City of Bozeman, and prescribing punishment for
erecting, maintaining and continuance thereof.
Adopted and approved April 19, 1883
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Ordinance No. 6
Concerning City Elections
The Territory embraced within the different Wards is as follows:
First Ward -All north of Main Street and east of Bozeman Street
Second Ward - All north of Main Street and west of Bozeman Street
Third Ward - ~ All south of Main Street and west of Black Street
Fourth Ward -All south of Main Street and east of Black Street
Section 13: Judges and Clerks of election shall each be allowed two dollars for their
services.
Adopted and approved April 28, 1 S83
Ordinance No. 7
Concerning~Domestic Animals Running at Large
Section 2: The City Marshall, as Pound Keeper of the City, shall provide a pound of
suitable character.
' Section S: It shall be the duty of the Pound Keeper• to see that every impounded animal
has sufficient and proper food and water, also shelter and other care where needed. Far
any violation of the provisions of this section the Pound Keeper shall be deemed guilty of
a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be fined not exceeding twenty-five dollars.
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Section 6: For taking up and impounding any animal, the officer or other person
performing the service shall be entitled to a fee of one dollar, and for the care and feed of
such animal fifty cents per day.
Adopted and approved May 1, 1883
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Qrdinunce No. $
Concerning Offenses Against Good Order and Morals
Section b: Any person who shall wantonly disturb and religious meeting or other lawful
assemblage, whether at church, or any public hall, or private house, by day or night, by
rude, profane, obscene, or other offensive speech, or by noises, ar by any rude, offensive
or improper behavior, or otherwise, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on
conviction shall be fined not less than five dollars nor more than twenty dollars.
Section 7: Any person who shall appear in any public place in a state of nudity, ar in a
dress not belonging to his or her sex, or in an indecent or lewd dress, or shall make an
indecent exposure of his or her person, or be guilty of any indecent or lewd acts or
behavior, or shall exhibit, sell or offer to sell or dispose of in any manner, any indecent or
lewd book, picture or thing, or shall exhibit or perform any indecent, immoral or lewd
play, act or other representation, shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanor, and on
conviction shall be fined not less than five dollars nor more than one hundred dollars.
Section 9: If any person shall inhumanely, unnecessarily beat or otherwise abuse any
dumb animal, he shall be fined not less than ten dollars nor more than fifty dollars.
Section 19: No person within the fire limits of the City shall play at any game of ball on
the public streets or sidewalks, and any person so offending shall be fined in any sum not
exceeding ten dollars and costs.
Adapted and approved May 1, 1883
This particular ordinance is important because it established a code of conduct
and established the tenor of citizen's thinking. Approximately 2D years after the
founding of Bozeman, it became a city offense to:
Cry "fire", fight or swear or use obscene, vulgar, or indecent language within the
limits.
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' 2. Disturb the peace (maximum fine $ l 00.00).
3. Instigate dog fights or cock fights (maximum fine $25.00).
4. Be drunk or intoxicated, frighten people or pass out in public places.
S. Smoke opium or have an opium den.
6. Be nude in town or be dressed in cloths not belonging to his or her sex; expose
yourself indecently, dress ludely, have indecent pictures, books, etc. The same went
for indecent plays.
7. Disturb church meetings or public ar private meetings.
S. Exhibit horses, jacks or bulls indecently.
9. Abuse any dumb animal.
10. Race horses ar horses and buggies through city streets.
11. Leave horses or horses and buggies untended.
12. Block intersections with a team or horses.
13. Block sidewalks with trade goods.
14. Leave trap doors open.
15. Have open hay stacks in the city.
16. Project any sign from any building on Main Street (**the City's first sign ordinance)
Within a month, Bozeman had begun to shape it's destiny by taking charge of it's
affairs. Ten years before, vigilantes broke into a log jail, removed two prisoners and
hanged them.
Urdinance No. 9
Concerning Process and Execution of Sentence
Section 6: Persons arrested for violations of the City Ordinance shall be accorded a trial
with all convenient dispatch. If any officer makes an arrest without a warrant he shall
proceed as soon as practicable to file a sworn complaint and procure such warrant.
Section 8: Where any person has been arrested and brought to trial for any alleged
violation of any ordinance and it shall appear that the prosecutor or complaining witness
has made complaint maliciously and without probable cause, judgement shall be
rendered against the prosecutor ar complaining witness for costs, and the court may issue
execution to recover the sum, as judgement for debt, and whenever the Police Magistrate
shall have reason to believe any complaint is actuated by malice in making complaint,
said Magistrate, before issuing process may require the complainant to deposit a sum
sufficient to secure the probable costs.
Section 10: All actions to recover any fines, forfeitures or penalties for the violation of
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' any Ordinance shall be commenced within two years after the right of action occurred.
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Adopted and approved May 31, 1883
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