Peoria's Public Conduct: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles public conduct a little differently. In Peoria, Illinois, there are 6 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Public Alcohol Use

Peoria bars carrying alcohol on a public way unless it's in the original package with an unbroken seal, and bans drinking it entirely in public under Code Sec. 20-99. The rule covers every street, alley, sidewalk and publicly-accessible building or ground in the city.

Key details: Governing section: Code Sec. 20-99. Possession rule: Must stay sealed in original package. Consumption rule: Banned on any public way or place. Exception: Licensed on-premises retail liquor establishments. Adopted: Code 1957 § 22-41.

Carrying alcohol in an opened, unsealed container on any Peoria street, sidewalk or public building, or drinking it anywhere in public outside a licensed on-premises retail location, violates Sec. 20-99. Violations are prosecuted under the Code's general penalty provisions, with police empowered to cite on observation without a prior warning requirement.

Public Urination

Peoria's indecency ordinance, Code Sec. 20-121, makes it unlawful to urinate or defecate in a public place outside a restroom, or to expose private body parts attempting to do so. "Public place" means anywhere the conduct could reasonably be expected to be viewed by others.

Key details: Governing section: Code Sec. 20-121(a)(2). Covered locations: Anywhere conduct is reasonably visible to others. Exception: Urinals, commodes, similar restroom facilities. Adopted: Code 1957 § 22-23; amended 2005 by Ord. 15847. Related offense: Sec. 20-121(a)(1) indecent exposure.

Intentionally urinating or defecating outside a restroom facility in any place where the conduct could reasonably be viewed by others, or exposing private body parts in the attempt, violates Sec. 20-121(a)(2) and is punishable under the general penalty provisions of Sec. 1-5 of the Code.

Loitering Rules

Peoria's Sec. 20-220 lets police order suspected gang members to disperse from designated hot-spot areas; disobeying, or returning within three hours, is a crime carrying up to six months in jail plus a mandatory five-day minimum on a second offense.

Key details: Governing section: Code Sec. 20-220. Designation authority: Superintendent of police, by written directive. Re-loitering window: Three hours after dispersal order. Max penalty: 6 months jail plus Sec. 1-5 fine. Repeat offense: Mandatory minimum 5 days jail.

Failing to promptly obey a police dispersal order issued under Sec. 20-220(a), or resuming gang loitering within sight or hearing of that order during the following three hours, is punishable by a Sec. 1-5 fine, up to six months imprisonment, or both; a second or subsequent offense carries a mandatory minimum five-day jail sentence.

Compared to other cities, Peoria takes a harder line on loitering rules. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Loud Party Ordinance

Peoria treats a party of ten or more as a 'nuisance gathering' once two of fifteen listed offenses occur, from underage drinking to disorderly conduct. Hosts, property owners and even attendees who ignore a dispersal order face fines of $250 to $1,000 and can be billed for the police response.

Key details: Gathering size threshold: 10 or more persons. Qualifying offenses needed: At least 2 of 15 listed offenses. Fine range: $250.00 to $1,000.00. Cost liability: Joint and several for public costs. Dispersal order requirement: Police supervisor approval first.

A nuisance gathering violation under Sec. 24-65 carries a fine of not less than $250.00 and not more than $1,000.00 per participant, plus joint and several liability for the city's public response costs and possible disgorgement of any profit collected from hosting the gathering; minors' costs can be recovered from a parent or guardian.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Peoria actively enforces its loud party ordinance requirements.

Skateboarding Rules

Peoria bans skateboarding on any roadway except at crosswalks, and bans it entirely on sidewalks and public areas within the downtown zone bounded by the Illinois River, William Kumpf Boulevard, Glendale Avenue and Interstate 74 under Code Sec. 20-103.

Key details: Governing section: Code Sec. 20-103. Roadway rule: Banned except crossing at crosswalks. Downtown zone: Illinois River to I-74, Kumpf Blvd, Glendale Ave. Posted-property rule: Signs can prohibit skateboarding on any lot. Adopted: Code 1957 § 22-68.

Riding a skateboard on a city roadway outside a crosswalk, on sidewalks or public areas within the mapped downtown boundary, on posted private or public property, or in a manner dangerous to persons or property violates Sec. 20-103 and is punishable under the Code's general penalty schedule at Sec. 1-5.

Jaywalking

Peoria's traffic code doesn't ban crossing mid-block outright, but Sec. 28-222 requires any pedestrian crossing outside a marked or unmarked crosswalk to yield the right-of-way to all vehicles on the roadway. Between signalized intersections, pedestrians must cross only in a marked crosswalk, and diagonal crossing needs an authorizing signal.

Key details: Mid-block crossing: Legal, but pedestrian must yield to vehicles. Between signalized intersections: Crossing only allowed in marked crosswalks. Diagonal crossing: Banned unless a signal authorizes it. Through streets: No crossing outside crosswalks on Schedule 'J' streets. Penalty: $50 minimum fine under Sec. 28-82.

A pedestrian who fails to yield when crossing outside a crosswalk, crosses diagonally without authorization, or crosses a Schedule 'J' through street outside a crosswalk is subject to the general Chapter 28 penalty: not less than $50.00 and not more than the maximum fine under Sec. 1-5, plus court costs if prosecuted rather than settled.

Peoria is more permissive than most cities when it comes to jaywalking. That said, there are still limits.

The Bottom Line

Peoria is tougher than many cities when it comes to public conduct. Out of the 6 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Peoria, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

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