Downtown 'Exclusion Zone' extended

By Kelly Koopmans KVAL News Published: Feb 28, 2012 at 12:50 AM PDT
Downtown 'Exclusion Zone' extended

EUGENE, Ore. -- The Eugene City Council voted Monday to extend the city's Downtown Public Safety Zone, also known as the Exclusion Zone. 

The rule bans people accused of certain crimes from a 20 block area of downtown for up to 90 days. 

The Council voted 6 to 2 to extend the rule until November. 

The rule was set to expire in April. 

In the meanwhile, city councilors said they will continue collecting data on how the zone works and whether it's being fairly applied. 

Local ACLU representatives and other opponents have said the law violates constitutional rights. 

Councilors Betty Taylor and Mike Clark cast the two 'no' votes. 

Authorities have said the ordinance is a vital tool for fighting crime in the area.