New Law Targets Gang Loitering in Arlington Heights

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — Although the Arlington Heights police department hasn't seen an increase in gang activity, the Village Board has unanimously approved an ordinance that makes it illegal for gang members to loiter in a varity of areas, including parking lots and sidewalks, according to the Arlington Heights Post.

Under the new law, officers can issue loitering citations to known gang members in the police department's database, the report stated. It would be up to the officer to first ask the members to leave the area before handing out the citation, the report added.

Officials see the measure as another tool for police to use to curb gang activity before it becomes a problem in Arlington Heights, the Post reports. Deputy Chief Mike Hernandez says this allows officers to weild the loitering citation as a deterrent to gang members who might be looking for recruits, trying to claim new terrority or intimidating rivals and the public, the report added.

The ordinance, which was passed at the Nov. 7 board meeting, also has a narcotics-related provision that allows police to target parts of the village with high instances of drug-related crimes, according to the report.

Similar laws in Mount Prospect and Rolling Meadows were used as the template for Arlington Heights' ordinance, the report stated. Officials also were careful to craft the measure so that it doesn't violate people's constitutional rights, the report added.

More via the Arlington Heights Post

image via the Arlington Heights Police Department

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