CIVIL EMERGENCIES

Oklahoma City Municipal Code ch. 15, art. III

in effect

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 15-36 Definitions.

§ 15-36. - Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: (1) Curfew means a prohibition against any person walking, running, loitering, standing or motoring upon any alley, street, highway, public property or vacant premises, excepting persons officially designated to duty with reference to the emergency. (2) Disorderly means a course of conduct by a person which: a. causes public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm, or recklessly creates a risk thereof, by: 1. engaging in fighting or in violent, tumultuous, or threatening behavior; or 2. making an unreasonable noise or an offensively coarse utterance, gesture, or display, or addressing abusive language to any person present; or 3. dispersing any lawful procession or meeting of persons, not being a peace officer of this City and without lawful authority; or 4. creating a hazardous or physically offensive condition which serves no legitimate purpose; or b. engages with at least one other person in a course of disorderly conduct as defined in Subparagraph a. above which is likely to cause substantial harm or serious inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm, and refuses or knowingly fails to obey an order to disperse, made by a peace officer to the participants. (3) State of emergency means an emergency proclaimed such by the Mayor pursuant to Section 15-37. (Code 1970, § 21-15; Code 1980, § 15-36)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 15-37 Proclamation of state of emergency.

§ 15-37. - Proclamation of state of emergency. (a) The Mayor, after finding that a public disorder, disaster or riot exists which affects life, health, property or the public peace, may proclaim a state of emergency in the area affected. The proclamation of a state of emergency and other proclamations issued pursuant to this section shall be in writing and shall be signed by the Mayor and filed with the City Clerk. (b) The Mayor shall give as much public notice as practical through the news media of the issuance of proclamations pursuant to this section. (c) The state of emergency shall cease to exist upon the issuance of a proclamation of the Mayor declaring its termination; provided that the Mayor shall terminate the proclamation when order has been restored in the area affected. (Code 1970, § 21-17; Code 1980, § 15-37)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 15-38 Mayor's emergency powers.

§ 15-38. - Mayor's emergency powers. (a) The Mayor, during the existence of a state of emergency, by proclamation, may, in the area affected by public disorder, disaster, or riot at the time of the proclamation is issued, prohibit: (1) any person being on the public streets, or in the public parks or at any other public place during the hours declared by the Mayor to be a period of curfew; (2) a designated number of persons from assembling or gathering on the public streets, parks or other areas either public or private; (3) the manufacture, transfer, use, possession or transportation of a Molotov cocktail or any other device, instrument or object designed to explode or produce uncontained combustion; (4) the transporting, possessing or using of gasoline, kerosene, or combustible, flammable, or explosive liquids or materials in a glass or uncapped container of any kind except in connection with the normal operation of motor vehicles, normal home use or legitimate commercial use; (5) the possession of firearms or any other deadly weapon by a person (other than a law enforcement officer) in a place other than that person's place of residence or business; (6) the sale, purchase or dispensing of alcoholic beverages (including 3.2 beer); (7) the sale, purchase or dispensing of other commodities or goods, as he reasonably believes should be prohibited to help preserve and maintain life, health, property or the public peace; (8) the use of certain streets, highways or public ways by the public; and (9) such other activities as he reasonably believes should be prohibited to help preserve and maintain life, health, property or the public peace. (b) In imposing the restrictions provided for in this section, the Mayor may impose them for such times, upon such conditions, with such exceptions and in such areas he from time to time deems necessary. (Code 1970, § 21-18; Code 1980, § 15-38)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 15-39 Riots.

§ 15-39. - Riots. No three or more persons shall assemble together or act in concert to do any act with force or violence against the peace, or to the terror of others, or make any movement or preparation therefor. No person who is present at the meeting or assembly shall fail to endeavor to prevent the commission or perpetration of such an act. (Code 1980, § 15-39)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 15-40 Penalty.

§ 15-40. - Penalty. Any person violating a provision of this article or any proclamation or order issued pursuant hereto shall be guilty of a Class "b" offense and upon conviction be punished by a fine not exceeding $750.00, excluding costs or imprisonment in the City Jail not exceeding six months, or both such fine and imprisonment. (Code 1970, § 21-21; Code 1980, § 15-40; Ord. No. 20451, § 1, 10-24-95)

Source: City of Oklahoma City, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ok/oklahoma_city/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=OKMUCO2020_CH15CIDEEMMA_ARTIIICIEMFetched: 10/28/2026