CHAPTER
55
COURTHOUSE
SECURITY
WHEREAS, IC 36-2-2-24 requires the County Executive to establish and maintain a courthouse for the housing of County offices; and
WHEREAS, IC 36-1-3-4 grants the County the power necessary to conduct its affairs; and
WHEREAS, IC 34-1-32-1 provides that whatever is injurious to health or interferes with the quiet enjoyment of life or property is a nuisance; and
WHEREAS, IC 36-1-3-8 permits the imposition of a fine not to exceed $2,500.00 for violation of an ordinance.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Board of Commissioners of Vigo County, Indiana, as follows:
3 – 55.1
Purpose
This Ordinance is to provide for the health, safety and welfare of citizens, County employees and County officials conducting business in the Vigo County Courthouse.
3 – 55.2
Prohibition
Except as otherwise provided herein, no person shall enter into the Vigo County Courthouse while in possession of any firearm, knife, weapon or any object which could be used as a weapon or a object of destruction.
3 – 55.3
Nuisance
Except as otherwise provided herein, the possession of any firearm, knife, weapon or any other object which could be used as a weapon or an object of destruction in the Vigo County Courthouse is declared to be injurious to the health and an interference with the quiet enjoyment of life of the citizens of Vigo County, and is deemed to be a nuisance and a violation of this Ordinance.
3 – 55.4
Exception
This Ordinance shall not apply to Federal, State or local law enforcement officers while conducting official business, or to any other person who has a current written exemption signed and sealed by a duly elected Judge of a Vigo County Court exempting the person from the application of this Ordinance.
3 – 55.5
Enforcement
To enforce the provisions of this Ordinance all persons entering the Vigo County Courthouse must go through a security check and are subject to search for any items prohibited by this Ordinance.
3 – 55.6
Penalties
Any person found to have violated this Ordinance shall be subject to a fine of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars (&2,500.00) per violation. Each entry into the Vigo County Courthouse in violation of this Ordinance shall be a separate violation.
3 – 55.7
Repealer
All Ordinances or parts of Ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed.
3 – 55.8
Severability Clause
If any section, provision, or pan of this Ordinance is adjudged invalid or unconstitutional, such adjudication shall not effect the validity of the Ordinance as a whole or any section, provision, or part thereof not adjudged invalid or unconstitutional.
3 – 55.9
Effective Date
This Ordinance is passed and adopted by the Board of Commissioners of Vigo County, Indiana, on this 10th day of April,1997, and shall become effective upon completion of publication as required by IC 36-2-4-8.
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF
ATTEST: VIGO COUNTY, INDIANA:
Signatory, Judith A. Anderson Signatory, P. James Diehl
Judith Anderson, Auditor P. James Diehl, President
Signatory, William J. Decker
William J. Decker
Signatory, C. Joseph Anderson, Jr.
C. Joseph Anderson, Jr.