While Golden was founded in June of 1859, in 1871 the residents decided to become more “official” by incorporating. Having done this, our Board of Trustees (what we now call “City Council”) set to work defining our City Ordinances.
154 Years Ago
The October 4, 1871 Colorado Transcript included the most recent batch, “An Ordinance concerning offenses in the nature of misdemeanors.”
Article 1. Offenses against good morals and decency.
Section 1. Impersonating a police officer or town constable by wearing a star – fine up to $100.
Section 2. Public nudity or wearing garments not belonging to his or her sex or dressing lewdly or behaving lewdly or selling lewd books or pictures or performing lewd acts – fine $10-100.
Section 3. Inhumane treatment of animals – fine $3-50.
Section 4. Discharging a cannon or gun or setting off fireworks within the town limits without permission of the President of the Board of Trustees (equivalent to today’s Mayor) – fine $1-100.
Section 5. Driving or riding horses at unsafe speeds within the city limits – fine $1-100.
Section 6. Making improper noise, riot, disturbance or breach of the peace or using profane, obscene, or offensive language to any person – fine $5-100.
Section 7. Digging a hole, ditch, or drain within the town limits without permission of the President of the Board of Trustees (equivalent to today’s Mayor) – fine $3-25.
Section 8. Removing sod, stone, earth, sand,or gravel from any public property within the town limits – fine $5-25.
Section 9. Injuring or tearing up pavement or sidewalks – fine $3-50.
Section 10. Hindering or obstructing construction of pavement, sidewalk, or crosswalk – fine $10-50.
Section 11. Hitching a horse to or injuring an ornamental fence or railing, a tree, or a lamp post within the city limits – fine $2-100.
Section 12. Injuring or destroying a bridge, a firehouse, or any other town property – fine up to $100 plus payment of all damages.
Section 13. Helping prisoners of the town jail to escape – fine $5-100.
Section 14. Providing alcohol to a prisoner of the town jail – fine $5-100.
Section 15. Carrying concealed weapons (including knives and guns) or openly carrying weapons so as to excite fear in others – fine $5-35.
Section 16. Leaving horses or other animals attached to vehicles within town limits without securely fastening the horse – fine $3-10.
Approved Sept. 20th, 1871
(I wonder if it’s still illegal to wear garments not belonging to one’s sex?)
