Public Conduct in Florissant, MO

If you live in Florissant or are thinking about moving there, public conduct are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Florissant has 5 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of public conduct, and some of them might surprise you.

Public Marijuana Use

Florissant makes it an offense to smoke or consume marijuana in any public area, including outdoor areas, workplaces, public meetings and any place already covered by the Indoor Clean Air Code, punishable by a civil penalty of up to $100.

Key details: Governing section: § 210.1900(E), No Public Consumption Of Marijuana. Enacted by: Ord. No. 8866, 2-13-2023. Penalty: Civil penalty not exceeding $100. Covered areas: Outdoor areas, workplaces, public meetings, public places. Exception: State-licensed consumption locations.

Smoking or consuming marijuana in any public area, including outdoor spaces, workplaces and public meetings, violates Section 210.1900(E) and draws a civil penalty of up to $100, unless the location is separately licensed for marijuana consumption. Each incident is a separate offense under Section 210.1900(F).

Public Urination

Florissant makes it unlawful to urinate on any street, in any park, or in any other public place open to the public, including a private place open to public view, unless you are using restroom facilities provided for that purpose. Section 210.1560 covers the entire city and is enforced as a general ordinance violation.

Key details: Section: § 210.1560, Article IX (Sexual Offenses). Covered locations: Streets, parks, public places, private places visible to public. Exception: Restroom facilities provided for that use. Maximum fine: $1,000.00 (§ 100.080). Maximum jail term: 3 months, City or County Jail.

Violating Section 210.1560 is an ordinance violation punishable under the Section 100.080 general penalty: a fine of up to $1,000.00, up to three (3) months in the City or County Jail, or both. Section 100.080 also treats each day a violation continues as a separate offense, so repeated conduct can multiply exposure.

Public Alcohol Use

Florissant Code Section 600.140(G) makes it unlawful to drink or possess an open container of intoxicating liquor or non-intoxicating beer on any public street, sidewalk, alley, thoroughfare or parking lot in the city, and the ban extends to unsealed containers inside a vehicle that is parked, standing or being driven on any public place.

Key details: Public place: Streets, sidewalks, alleys, parking lots. Drinking ban: No consuming alcohol in public places. Open container ban: Applies on foot and in vehicles. Driver presumption: Driver presumed to possess any open container. Maximum penalty: $1,000 fine or 3 months jail.

Because Chapter 600 sets no separate penalty for this offense, it falls under the Chapter 100 general penalty in Section 100.080: a fine of up to $1,000, up to three months in the City or County Jail, or both, with each day a violation continues treated as a separate offense. Court costs of at least $12 per conviction apply on top of any fine under Section 100.090.

Compared to other cities, Florissant takes a harder line on public alcohol use. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Jaywalking

Section 345.060 bars pedestrians from crossing anywhere but a marked crosswalk between signalized intersections, anywhere in a business district, or on any street the City has specifically designated, and bans crossing diagonally through an intersection unless signs allow it.

Key details: Governing section: § 345.060, City Code. Crosswalk-only zone: between signalized intersections. Also crosswalk-only: any business district. Also crosswalk-only: streets designated by ordinance. Diagonal crossing: banned unless signs allow it.

No fine is set within Chapter 345 itself, so a citation under Section 345.060 falls under the City's general penalty, Section 100.080: up to a $1,000 fine, up to three months in the City or County Jail, or both, with each day of a continuing violation chargeable separately.

Skateboarding Rules

Florissant bars skateboarding in the streets, roads or highways and on the property of any shopping center in the city. Section 310.045, in the traffic code's enforcement chapter, sets the ban with no exception for business-district sidewalks or parking areas.

Key details: Section: § 310.045, Use of Skateboards. Chapter: 310, Enforcement and Obedience To Traffic Regulations. Banned locations: Streets, roads, highways, shopping center property. Maximum fine: $1,000.00 (§ 100.080). Maximum jail term: 3 months, City or County Jail.

Section 310.045 sets no penalty of its own, so a violation is punished under Section 100.080's general penalty: a fine of up to $1,000.00, up to three (3) months in the City or County Jail, or both, with each day of a continuing violation counted as a separate offense. Skateboarding within a City park is separately governed by Section 385.125.

The Bottom Line

Florissant's public conduct rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Florissant is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Florissant's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.