Gang-loitering bill is revived
Greiner sponsored a similar bill last year that passed the Senate but died in the House amid questions about the legality of dispersing groups that have a constitutional right to assemble.
Greiner said the bill now includes protections for the constitutional rights of individuals but still lets police break up and move groups of people under certain circumstances.
He told the commission the impetus for the proposed law was a 2007 fatal shooting in Ogden in a vacant lot next to a convenience store. Police had long been wary of large groups, as many as 30 or 40 people, hanging around on the lot and were concerned about gang activity taking place there. But the out-of-state corporate landowners were unresponsive to police entreaties for permission to take action on that land.
If the law is passed, police who spot a known gang member among a group hanging around a gang-free zone could disperse the entire group for a period of eight hours. Failure to leave once told to by police would be a class B misdemeanor that carries a potential penalty of six months in jail.
Greiner said after the meeting that he doubted this would be used very often if the bill passes the Legislature and becomes law but that it would provide police with one more option in their efforts to curb gang activity.
E-mail: lindat@desnews.com
Recent comments
I'm sorry. I made a typo. I wrote:
"Is this registry of
known gang...
Shawn Webb | Jan. 8, 2009 at 8:30 a.m.
I agree with "I am not a gang member." I am presently watching the...
uncannygunman | Jan. 8, 2009 at 7:37 a.m.
Shawn Webb �
Right On! I also have some concerns about
�freedom...
i am not a gang member | Jan. 7, 2009 at 8:23 p.m.
- Chelsea Clinton is engaged 10:31 a.m.
- Suspect in police deaths still at large 10:28 a.m.
- Gov't pressures mortgage industry 10:25 a.m.
- Sands China stock tumbles in debut 9:21 a.m.
- Vegas pinning hopes on CityCenter 9:20 a.m.
- Saab CEO courting buyers in Detroit 9:19 a.m.
- Court won't disturb $82M award 9:18 a.m.
- Rumor: Papers paid to shun Google 9:17 a.m.
- Salvation Army kettle stolen 9:05 a.m.
- Charges filed in ATM theft 9:05 a.m.
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- Y. student vanished in China
- Max Hall issues apology
- Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
- BYU is champion of the state
- Boy shot following traffic stop
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- Cougs begin bowl preparations
- Marriage definitions vary widely
- Utes won't respond to Hall
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
878 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
478 - Max Hall issues apology
280 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
153 - BYU is champion of the state
138 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
119 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
116 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
90 - Hall's legacy measured today
80 - Utes fall to Seattle U. at home
65
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
That's what's wrong with this country. I'm sorry the woman got hurt but...
With regard to this comment/sentiment: "Last time I checked, Max Hall wasn't...
I love this movie! This movie is the Citizen Kane of ninja movies!!
Hall speaks to being from BYU like Palin speaks about being a conservative....
I find it very interesting to compare this article and the comments on it...
I find it very interesting to compare this article and the comments on it...
you are grasping, can't you just live and let live. Or do we all need to...
Wherever they go, they should go with Max on the side line. After his tirade...
Like most “Bubble Boys in Blue”, you think only bad fans and...
I lived and taught university in Korea for 8 years. During that time I...


