Orange County NC Website
2 <br /> 3. Presentation by County Attorney John Roberts <br /> Facilitator Bryan introduced John Roberts, the County Attorney for the Orange County <br /> Board of Commissioners. <br /> Mr. Roberts shared that he had been asked to provide the Task Force with an overview <br /> of laws impacting conduct at schools by students, parents and others. He noted that his <br /> official position may limit some of his comments, but that he would address any questions <br /> as best he could. <br /> Mr. Roberts briefly discussed the prohibition of weapons on school property. He <br /> referenced legal provisions against creating a public disturbance, sometimes referred to <br /> as a "riot statute", and noted application of those provisions were sometimes problematic. <br /> He shared comments regarding the "dispersal statute", in which a group was required to <br /> disperse when ordered by a law enforcement officer. He noted that violations of these <br /> laws were all misdemeanors. <br /> Mr. Roberts discussed "disorderly conduct", noting that there were sometimes problems <br /> in how those provisions were applied. He also discussed a statute regarding "Seizures <br /> of a Public Building", adding that there was some uncertainty regarding what "seizure" <br /> meant. He noted that violations of these statutes fell under criminal charges. Mr. Roberts <br /> also briefly discussed the defacement of buildings and trespass provisions, noting that <br /> trespass would apply in cases where the property was appropriately posted, or if <br /> someone had been asked to leave. <br /> Mr. Roberts moved forward to discuss protests and other activities that might occur along <br /> the public roadway adjoining a school or on the road right-of-way. He referenced Orange <br /> High School and noted that he had recently reviewed the survey plat for the school <br /> property, as the County actually owned the school property based on a previous financing <br /> action. He noted that the school property extends to the roadway, and that the road right- <br /> of-way was an overlay onto the school property. <br /> Mr. Roberts also briefly added that law enforcement had the authority to require dispersal <br /> when an activity impedes the progress of a school bus. <br /> Mr. Roberts concluded his comments by noting that a County ordinance may not be the <br /> best way to address school safety concerns, as most of the schools in Orange County <br /> were located in the towns where a County ordinance would not apply. Adoption by the <br /> towns would be necessary for any provisions to apply to most of the schools. <br /> 4. Discussion/Questions & Answers with County Attorney John Roberts <br /> Facilitator Bryan moved the discussion forward to questions and answers with Mr. <br /> Roberts. Task Force Member Andy Simmons inquired about the Orange High School <br /> property plat showing the school property extending to the roadway and asked if that was <br />