Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council makes 'unruly gatherings' ordinance 24/7 after public hearing on large parties
Summary
Following public testimony from neighbors about recurring large parties, the council removed the existing 10 p.m.–6 a.m. enforcement window from the town's unruly‑gatherings ordinance, making the rule enforceable at all hours.
After a lengthy public hearing that drew neighbors and council discussion about large parties, parking and safety, the South Kingstown Town Council voted on April 14 to remove a time‑of‑day limitation from the town's unruly‑gatherings ordinance.
Council members, police and multiple residents described occasions where large daytime gatherings — sometimes connected with university rental properties — created traffic, noise, public‑safety and sanitation issues. Chief of Police Patrick Moynihan told the council that complaints often arrive by neighbor phone call and that officers try to de‑escalate and mitigate disturbances. He said many incidents involve more than five people and that enforcement tools can be constrained when an incident occurs outside the narrow hours the ordinance previously cited.
Following debate about whether to set a new numeric threshold for the ordinance or remove both the numerical threshold and the time window, the council voted to strike the 10 p.m.–6 a.m. limitation. The motion passed by a recorded vote, 4–0 with one abstention. Council discussion noted the first enforcement step is a notice; repeated violations carry higher penalties and municipal‑court referral.
Why it matters: The change gives police and town staff a clearer legal basis to act on large daytime events and repeated neighborhood disturbances. Council members asked staff to prepare guidance and a public FAQ to explain how enforcement will work.
Details - Previous language limited enforcement to 10 p.m.–6 a.m.; that limitation was removed. - The ordinance contains a notice and graduated fine schedule: first offense triggers a notice; later offenses carry escalating fines and potential municipal‑court referral. - Multiple residents testified about blocked roads, overcrowding and late‑night disturbances; officers described operational constraints and the desire to preserve de‑escalation response options.
Quote "Majority and I would have to say probably over 90% are a result of a neighbor calling," Chief Moynihan said, describing the typical response dynamic for disturbance calls.
Ending: Council directed staff and police to draft enforcement guidance and public information about the modified ordinance and the process for notices, fines and municipal‑court referrals.
