Any legal insights regarding display in a public place?

[danj]

We are considering proposing that we do a Christmas display on the property of our Church in 2016.   I was just wondering--since most of what we do is DIY, are there any legal ramifications of which I should be aware?  For example, if I used a kit-based E682 to drive strips onto which I soldered waterproof connectors with the strips installed onto a megatree I had made and somehow someone managed to get shocked, would we have any liabilities?   I figured maybe someone potentially has some "lessons learned" in this ballpark.   Thanks

[emcee]

I can't speak specifically as state and local laws vary, but a display in a public place may be considered an "attractive nuisance" which means you must make efforts to protect the public.  Safe paths where people cannot access things that may shock them or fall on them are important.  Insurance is a must.  The UL label is important for manufactured items, generally not available for DYI. Worst case your municpality may consider visitors as buainess invitees, which means you have a duty to protect them basically from themselves.  In any case insurance and discussions with municipal officials are a must.

[danj]

I was figuring at the very least we could bolt the CG-1500's closed or maybe even lock them closed.
thanks so much.  Based on your input Emcee sounds like we should probably plan to put some type of barriers up around electrical stuff.

[Santa]

You want to avoid any hint that there is a commercial or promotional purpose for the show. ASCAP has informants everywhere, seriously, and they will clap a major fee and C&D if they feel there has been infringement. My major client runs a very small agri-tourism business and they used music without release for their gated attraction and they got slapped with a BIG bill.

[t.jo13t]

You might want to check the permit situation. Around here churches have to have permits just to put up a nativity scene. Code enforcemnt will  shut their display down without it. Comercial property is a whole big can of worms.

Joe

[danj]

I appreciate the insights!!!  Thanks so much.  This is exactly the kind of stuff I was looking for!