For the purpose of this title, the following words and phrases described in this title have the following meaning, except when a particular context clearly requires a different meaning.

    "Acquittal" means a verdict or finding of not guilty of an ordinance offense, rendered by a legally constituted jury, or by a court of competent jurisdiction authorized to try the case without a jury.

    "Act" includes a failure or omission to take action.

    "Another" means a person or persons (as defined in Chapter 38, Illinois Revised Statutes, as approved, adopted and amended) other than the offender.

    "City" or "this city" means the city of Columbia, Illinois and all of the land and water in respect to which the city has either exclusive or concurrent jurisdiction, and the air space above such land and water.

    "Code" or "municipal code" means the municipal code of the city.

    "Conduct" means an act or a series of acts, and the accompanying mental state.

    "Conviction" means a judgment of conviction or sentence entered upon a plea of guilty or upon a verdict or finding of guilty of an ordinance offense, rendered by a legally constituted jury or by a court of competent jurisdiction authorized to try the case without a jury.

    "Dwelling" means a building or a portion thereof, a tent, a vehicle, or other enclosed space which is used or intended for use as a human habitation, home or residence.

    "Included offense" means an offense which:

    1.    Is established by proof of the same or less than all of the facts of a less culpable mental state (or both), than that which is required to establish commission of the offense charge; or

    2.    Consists of an attempt to commit the offense charged or an offense included therein.

    "Includes" or "including" means comprehending among other particulars, without limiting the generality of the foregoing word or phrase.

    "Offense" means a violation of the municipal code or the ordinances of the city.

    "Peace officer" means any person who, by virtue of his office or public appointment is vested by law with the duty to maintain public order or to make arrests for offenses, whether that duty extends to all offense or is limited to specific offenses.

    "Person" means an individual, private or public corporation, government, partnership or an unincorporated association.

    "Prosecution" means all proceedings by which that person’ s liability for a municipal code or ordinance offense is determined, commencing with the filing of a citation, information or complaint, and including the final disposition of the case upon appeal.

    "Public employee" means a person, other than a public officer, who is authorized to perform any official function on behalf of, and is paid by the city.

    "Public officer" means a person who is elected to city office pursuant to statute, or who is appointed to a city office which is established, and the qualifications and duties which are prescribed by statute, to discharge a public duty for the city.

    "Reasonable belief" or "reasonably believes" means that the person concerned, acting as a reasonable man, believes that the described facts exist.

    "Solicit" or "solicitation" means to command, authorize, urge, incite, request or advise in order to commit an offense under the municipal code and ordinances of the city. (Prior code § 27-1-1)