Ordinances
The City of Carbondale Police Department wants to remind all residents of State Laws and Local Ordinances concerning alcohol, bicycles, parking, and amplified sound. For more information about the ordinances, contact the Police Department.
State Laws & Ordinances
State law and city ordinance require a person to be 21 years of age to purchase, possess, or consume alcohol. City ordinance has established a minimum $250 fine for underage possession/consumption offenses.
Entering Bars
You must be 19 years of age to enter a bar in Carbondale unless you are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. This does not prohibit persons under 19 from entering restaurants or similar establishments whose primary purpose is not related to the service of alcohol.
Showing Identification
An ordinance requires you to show a vehicle operator’s license, a state photo ID card, a visa, a passport, or a military identification card to enter a bar in Carbondale. No other forms of ID are accepted. State law mandates that anyone who uses another person’s driver’s license or ID card to enter a bar is subject to a minimum fine of $500 or 50 hours of community service. In addition, both the person who uses the ID and the actual owner of the ID may have their driver’s license suspended for 12 months. It is illegal to possess a false or forged license or ID card.
Police officers have the authority to request ID from bar patrons they believe are underage. Failure to cooperate with an officer could result in an arrest for obstructing justice or resisting a police officer.
Furnishing Alcohol
If you are hosting a party, it is illegal to sell alcohol without a license. It is also unlawful to furnish alcoholic beverages for money or any other consideration. This includes charging for cups or entertainment and providing “free” alcoholic beverages.
It is illegal to furnish alcoholic beverages to any person under 21 years of age, and it is the party host’s responsibility to ensure that persons are 21 or older before serving them alcohol. It is a good idea to have non-alcoholic drinks available for guests who are under the age of 21.
Kegs
It is unlawful for anyone to purchase or transport a keg between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. in Carbondale. There are additional days around Halloween when keg sales are prohibited.
Unsealed Containers
It is illegal to possess an unsealed container of alcohol on public property. This includes streets, sidewalks, alleys, and any public way. Party hosts are responsible for ensuring their guests do not leave their party with open containers of alcohol.
Officers at Parties
If the police arrive at a party, the host should meet with the officers as soon as they come. Officers will notify the host of complaints received or other reasons why police are at the party. Officers will then review laws and city ordinances which apply to the party with the host. Once the host is made aware of the problems, they should take steps to eliminate the violations. If the police return, arrests are likely to result.
Ordinances
Traffic laws relevant to motor vehicles apply to bicycles as well. This includes stopping at stop signs and red lights, turning from appropriate lanes, riding in the same direction as motorized traffic, and displaying registration.
Registering Bicycles
Although bicycles are not required to be registered with the Carbondale Police Department, we highly encourage you to do so. Should it ever be stolen, this places a complete description of your bicycle on file, along with its serial number. Returning a recovered bike to its owner is greatly facilitated if this information is readily available.
To register your bicycle with the City, you can complete an online form or bring your bike to the Carbondale Police Department. There, you will provide owner and bicycle information on a bicycle registration form, and your bicycle will be checked to ensure that it is adequately equipped (reflectors, functioning brakes, etc.).
Required Equipment
Some required bicycle equipment includes side, front, and rear reflectors. Bicycles ridden during nighttime should be equipped with a white light in the front.
Where to Ride
Riding bicycles on sidewalks is prohibited, except for children under 12 on bikes with wheel sizes less than 24" or in areas where the sidewalk is marked explicitly for bicycle traffic. There are several bikeway routes and bicycle-only lanes on Carbondale streets. Pedestrians have the right-of-way on the Drainway/Greenway Paths, and bicycle riders should yield to them.
Ordinances
The Carbondale ordinance prohibits parking on or across sidewalks. Besides being an inconvenience to all pedestrians, this parking violation threatens the safety of persons with disabilities using the sidewalk. If your car is blocking a sidewalk, a ticket may be issued, and your vehicle may be towed.
Street Parking Time Limits
There is a 72-hour time limit for on-street parking. Vehicles suspected to be in violation will be marked and ticketed when it is determined that a 72-hour violation has occurred. Vehicles are subject to being towed if not moved and have at least two unpaid parking citations.
Front Yards
Parking is prohibited in the front yard of any dwelling. Any vehicle parked in front of these dwellings must be on a driveway.
Other Regulations
Other parking regulations include the following:
- Disabled vehicles must be moved from the roadway promptly
- Double parking is illegal, and so is parking that would block the normal flow of traffic
- Parked cars must not block private driveways or crosswalks
- Parking between the curb and sidewalk (on City right-of-way) is not allowed
- Parking is prohibited in loading zones or any other area posted as no parking zones
- Parking is prohibited within 15 feet of fire hydrants, 30 feet of stop signs or stop lights, and 50 feet of railroad crossings.
Ordinances
City ordinance prohibits the use of sound amplification devices in such a way that the sound can be heard more than 100 feet away during daytime hours (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and more than 50 feet during nighttime hours (10 p.m. to 7 a.m.).
City Ordinance also prohibits amplified sound from vehicles that may be heard more than 50 feet from the car at any time. Convictions of a City ordinance violation can result in a fine ranging from $75 to $750.