Crooks: Stay out of downtown
EUGENE, Ore. -- A law banning people accused or convicted of crimes from downtown Eugene took effect last week, but the criminal justice system is not yet ready to enforce the new law.
Eugene's downtown exclusion zone bans people convicted of crimes downtown from downtown for a year. People charged with a crime can be banned from downtown for 90 days.
"It requires careful planning to make sure we remain within the law, that we apply the ordinance the way it was intended and that we don't violate anybody's constitutional rights," said Captain Pete Kerns with the Eugene Police Department.
Police will start enforcing the downtown exclusion zone in just a few weeks, but it will be some time before police start issuing violations for all the crimes listed in the ordinance. | READ THE ORDINANCE
Kerns said they will phase them in, beginning with alcohol, drug and crimes against people.
Police aren't sure how to get the word out but plan to work with business owners and the media to let folks know that the exclusion zone is being enforced.
"It will be impossible to reach everybody but we will reach the people who work downtown, frequent downtown and live there," Kerns said.
People who hang out downtown have some ideas about spreading the word.
"You see the park rules posted in every park," said Burg Vaughn of Eugene, "so maybe they should have another sign that says these are the new exclusion rules, it took effect on this date at this time, it goes from here to here to here to here."
For now, the exclusion ordinanace remains a rule without firm rules.
