Congregating May Get Gang Members Arrested

[The Straight Story]

Congregating May Get Gang Members Arrested
West Palm Beach Police Attempt To Crack Down On Gang Violence

POSTED: 10:31 am EST February 6, 2007

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- West Palm Beach police want to fight gangs not just by arresting them, but also by taking them to civil court.

The plan by the police department is to identify gang members and the locations where they congregate, then to persuade a judge to issue an injunction blocking them from being together.

If two or more of the gang members are then gathered at the prohibited place, authorities can arrest them. However, accused gang members could fight the injunction in court.
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"Now, when we have these people hanging on a street corner, we're really helpless to do anything about it," unless authorities witness a crime, West Palm Beach Police Chief Delsa Bush told The Palm Beach Post.

"We're really trying to think outside the box," Bush said.

http://www.local6.com/news/10942879/detail.html

If ya ain't committing a crime and they want to arrest you, they make up new crimes :)

Them smokers' gangs best watch out, I see them standing outside of buildings, 10,000 feet from the door or more, huddled together smoking their 'reds' (a clear gang symbol). People coming out the door cough and shoot them dirty looks - unable to stop them from smoking they want a new law that says you can only smoke alone, away from car exhaust fumes outside so you don't add to them, and you cannot be wearing certain types of shirts or colors.

[LiberalFighter]

1. Where would it stop? If a cop doesn't like someone they could rig up charges

This will make it easier for cops.

[Deep13]

2. Come on now.

The definition of a criminal gang is pretty narrow. It requires criminal purpose. These groups are a real problem. Frankly, the complaining I hear from smokers who feel persecuted rings pretty hollow. People who are not self destructive are sick of being subjected to that shit are finally standing up for themselves.:nopity:

[LeftyMom]

4. West Sacramento has a law like that

Generally it's used to keep people from being young and brown in any proximity with other young brown people, because doing so is a barrier to gentrification.

[The Straight Story]

5. Don't make me whip out my snickers bar

:rofl:

[Deep13]

7. I don't care. I don't have a peanut allergy.

:evilgrin:

[niyad]

3. fascist police state, anyone?

[slackmaster]

6. Related article of interest from San Diego, CA

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070205/news_1m5goldy.html

[Deep13]

8. yup.

Pretty much how it looks to me.

[youngdem]

9. This is needed and can be done constitutionally

Gangs are organized crime. If there is enough evidence to both identify a gang, its actions and its membership, meeting can be construed as conspiracy to commit whatever their gang does.

This of course can be abused but it doesn't have to be.

Gangs are RUINING many communities, and for crime PREVENTION to work, you must be able to attack gang congregations. They encourage each other, provoke each other, battle each other and kill each other. Without congregation, no gang, and no gang, no feud.

Plus, it is illegal for felons to fraternize.

And, ALL gang members are felons (some just yet to be prosecuted), because belonging to a gang is a violation of RICO, a felony.

This needs to be done carefully, but it MUST be done. New Orleans is being destroyed by gangs, and we can't just wait and clean up the bodies and lock up the shooter (if we get lucky). We must be proactive.

Gang=Mafia.