(BCN) — The Alameda County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to scale back the jail time for spectators inside 200 ft of a sideshow from 6 months to three months.
Board president Nate Miley stated the unique ordinance, which handed on July 11, inadvertently failed to incorporate an modification the board had voted on to decrease the potential jail phrases.
“Due to this omission, a brand new second studying on the ordinance, as amended, is acquired,” Miley stated.
The up to date ordinance handed by a 3-1 vote, with supervisors David Haubert, Lena Tam and Nate Miley voting sure. Whereas Supervisor Elisa Márquez voted no, Supervisor Keith Carson was excused from the vote.
Supervisor Marquez, who additionally voted towards the unique legislation on July 17, has stated drivers have to be the goal, not spectators.
“Rising patrol and blocking areas the place sideshows are going to happen has been a mitigated effort,” she stated throughout the July 17 vote. “I would favor to see extra work finished than imposing this ordinance.”
Some attorneys have questioned the legality of charging folks with crimes who’re on public property and will or will not be viewing a sideshow.
Alameda County Public Defender Brendon Woods has issues, together with whether or not the ordinance is even constitutional. He’s additionally involved about folks of coloration, reminiscent of Black and Hispanic folks, being swept up by legislation enforcement simply because they’re Black and Hispanic.
“This ordinance has such the potential to try this,” he stated.
Except for a attainable 3-month jail time period, violators of the legislation will may be charged with a misdemeanor and be fined as much as $1,000. Beneath the legislation, circumstances to show a violation embody proof of prior acts of being current or attending a sideshow occasion within the final three years.
The ordinance takes impact on Aug. 9.
Copyright © 2023 Bay Metropolis Information, Inc.
