Burr Ridge Won't Follow Letter Of Law: Mayor

BURR RIDGE, IL – Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso this week suggested the village may defy the new state law on trespassing.

Under the SAFE-T Act, which takes effect Jan. 1, police can ticket trespassers, but not arrest and remove them, as they can now. The law does allow removal if a person poses an "obvious threat" to the community or any person.

"As the mayor of this village, I have no intention of following this law to the letter," Grasso, a lawyer, said at Monday's Village Board meeting. "I want to find a way to properly protect the residents of Burr Ridge against trespass. That's the way the law is today."

He continued, "I'm willing to stretch the rubber band as much as possible and dare someone to challenge us when we're trying to do what job one is – protect the public and protect our property."

At another point in his comments, Grasso said technically, the village could not do anything but follow the law, "unless we get creative."

Grasso said he would work to find a way to make trespassing as defined by law an obvious threat to a community or person. He said he would consult with the village attorney and police.

He said he hoped to come up with a method to pursue trespassing violations after Jan. 1 as if the existing law were still in force.

"It's just the absurdity of the idea that we as a community have to figure out a way to have our police officers who want to do the right thing and enforce the law against trespassers," the mayor said.

Other trustees also expressed frustration with the new law.

Village Attorney Mike Durkin said the village could face civil liability if local police make a trespassing arrest and a judge later finds no obvious threat existed.