§ 28-15. Trail ride permits and regulations.

(a)

Declaration of findings and policy. St. Martin Parish concludes that unregulated trail rides pose a serious hazard to the public health, welfare, and safety of the residents of St. Martin Parish, Louisiana. Consequently, availing itself of the authority expressed and/or implied by virtue of La. R.S. 32:41 et seq., St. Martin Parish does hereby impose the following regulations upon trail rides conducted on public roads within this parish.

(b)

Trail ride defined. The term "trail ride" means any gathering and/or prospective gathering of ten or more persons for the purpose of riding horseback along a planned course on any public roadway within St. Martin Parish, Louisiana.

(c)

Permit required. Any person, firm, or organization which desires to operate, conduct, and/or sponsor a trail ride must apply for and receive a permit from St. Martin Parish. The application for the permit must be submitted to the permit office of the parish at least 60 days prior to the event. The application shall set forth the following facts and information:

(1)

The name, address, and telephone number of the trail ride sponsor.

(2)

The date and time the trail ride will be held.

(3)

A specific description of the route of the ride for each day of the event along with a duly marked map of that route.

(4)

An estimate of the number of spectators, participants, and/or other persons expected to attend/accompany the event for each day which it is conducted.

Moreover, the application shall be signed by a representative of the Sheriff of St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, reflecting that arrangements have been confected regarding the presence of the number of deputies required by subsection (e)(2) of this section. At all times during the trail ride, the trail boss shall be in possession of the permit.

(d)

Application fee. The permit office of the St. Martin Parish shall collect from the applicant an application fee of $100.00 which fee shall be nonrefundable.

(e)

Regulations.

(1)

Presence of trail boss. The term "trail boss" is defined for purposes of this section, section (c) of this section, and subsection (f) of this section as the individual identified as such in the trail ride permit application. This individual shall be the duly authorized representative of any organization which may sponsor, organize, or conduct a trail ride. Consequently, the trail boss identified in the application and on the permit shall be present at all times during the trail ride, and shall ensure the orderly conduct of trail riders.

(2)

Police escort. All trail rides shall be escorted by the number of deputy sheriffs of St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, which is hereby fixed as follows:

a.

If the participants of the trail ride total 50 or less, then two deputy sheriff escorts shall be required.

b.

Should the participants in the trail ride exceed 50 but be less than 101, then three deputy sheriff escorts shall be required.

c.

Should the number of participants of the trail ride exceed 100 but be less than 151, then four deputy sheriff escorts are mandated.

d.

If the number of participants in the trail ride are 151 to 200, inclusively, then five deputy sheriff escorts shall be required.

All deputy sheriffs escorting a trail ride must be present during the event and shall be attired in full uniform. Moreover, at least two marked patrol units of the St. Martin Parish Sheriff must be present at all times. Compensation for the deputy sheriff escorts is the responsibility of the person, firm, or organization who/which operates, conducts, and/or sponsors a trail ride.

(3)

Restroom facilities. The sponsor of a trail ride shall provide a minimum of two restroom facilities to be transported on a trailer accompanying the trail ride. If the number of participants exceeds 100, then a third restroom facility is hereby mandated.

(4)

Hours of operation. Trail rides shall not commence until 30 minutes after sunrise and must end no later than 30 minutes prior to sunset.

(5)

Maximum number. The number of participants in a trail ride shall be limited to the number of participants declared on the application for trail ride, with a maximum number of participants in any trail ride being 200.

(6)

Presence of flag men. The organizer or sponsor of a trail ride shall provide one flag man for every 30 horses.

(7)

Food and drink concessions. All food wagons which accompany a trail ride shall park as far to the right as possible off of the roadway, and in no event shall any wagon be allowed to park on a highway right-of-way. Furthermore, it shall be the sole and exclusive responsibility of the sponsor or organizer of a trail ride to obtain the necessary food and drink permits which may be required by any regulatory agency of St. Martin Parish and/or the State of Louisiana.

(8)

Trash and litter. Trash containers shall be provided by the organizer or sponsor of a trail ride. As such, no littering shall be tolerated.

(9)

Presence of vehicles. No vehicles, trailers, or all terrain vehicles (ATVs) shall be permitted to accompany the trail ride, except for the transportation of the designated restroom facilities as mandated herein, any litter containers, and/or necessary horse trailers.

(10)

Orderly riding. No horse shall be ridden unless the animal is thoroughly broken and properly restrained with a bridle. Moreover, no person shall engage in any sort of race during the trail ride.

(11)

Route. The trail ride shall not deviate from the route specified on the application/permit.

(12)

Private property. No participant shall be permitted to ride on private property nor shall there be any stop or rest areas designated on private property. This provision shall not be applicable whenever the consent of the owner of the private property has been secured prior to the date of the trail ride.

(13)

Humane treatment of horses. The organizer, sponsor, and/or trail boss shall be responsible for having an appropriate amount of food and water for the horses being ridden or for those which may be pulling any sort of means of conveyance. Moreover, the reins, halter, bridle, and bit for each animal shall be fashioned and utilized so as not to cause any intentional or criminally negligent injury, pain, or torture to the horse.

(14)

Late arrivals. All riders shall begin at the starting point as designated in the trail ride permit, and no riders shall be added after the start time.

(f)

Mandatory liability insurance. The person, firm, or organization which sponsors, organizes, and/or conducts a trail ride shall submit to the St. Martin Parish proof of general liability insurance in connection with the said trail ride. The insurance shall be in an amount not less than $1,000,000.00 and shall name St. Martin Parish government, the Sheriff of St. Martin, and the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office as additional insureds.

(g)

Violations. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or organization, acting alone or in concert, to operate, sponsor, or participate in a trail ride, as defined herein, without first securing a permit. Furthermore, it shall be unlawful for any person to violate any of the conditions and provisions specified in subsection (h) of this section. Consequently, any violation of this section hereby establishing the regulation of trail rides shall constitute a criminal act and be punishable in accordance with the penal provisions specified in subsection (h) of this section.

(h)

Penalties. Whoever violates any term or provision of this section shall be fined not less than $150.00, nor more than $300.00, imprisoned for not more than 30 days, or both.

(Code 1979, § 14-7; Ord. of 11-5-1985; Mo. of 12-3-1985; Ord. No. 10-06-0894-OR, §§ 1—8, 6-1-2010; Ord. No. 10-09-0902-OR, 9-7-2010)