Park penalty is excessive

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Oct 11, 2012

~~<p>An aggressive city ordinance aimed at prosecuting anyone entering a city park at night during closed hours has resulted in too many people ending up with criminal records. The City Council should change the ordinance to treat trespassers with a sanction similar to a parking ticket, rather than the current law making it a criminal offense with the possibility of jail time.</p>
<p>The ordinance was created long ago, during Mayor Frank Fasi's administration, and was toughened in later years to deal with growing noise complaints.</p>
~~

An aggressive city ordinance aimed at prosecuting anyone entering a city park at night during closed hours has resulted in too many people ending up with criminal records. The City Council should change the ordinance to treat trespassers with a sanction similar to a parking ticket, rather than the current law making it a criminal offense with the possibility of jail time.

The ordinance was created long ago, during Mayor Frank Fasi's administration, and was toughened in later years to deal with growing noise complaints. Login for more...