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Stiff Penalties in School Safety Zones Expanded to Parks by Committee

By Ted Cox | January 20, 2015 10:37am
 Ald. Leslie Hairston (5th) smiles as Ald. James Balcer (11th) passes her ordinance through committee Tuesday.
Ald. Leslie Hairston (5th) smiles as Ald. James Balcer (11th) passes her ordinance through committee Tuesday.
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DNAinfo/Ted Cox

CITY HALL — A City Council committee on Tuesday expanded harsh penalties for crimes committed in school "safe passage" safety zones to parks as well.

The ordinance, passed by the Committee on Public Safety, simply takes stiffened penalties imposed in school safety zones and applies them to parks.

Three classes of offenses committed in the areas all call for fines ranging from $500 to $5,000 on the first offense, and mandatory jail terms of at least 30 days and up to six months. Both penalties ratchet up on second and third offenses to a maximum of a $20,000 fine and six-month jail term.

The ordinance was sponsored by Ald. Leslie Hairston (5th) and signed by 40 aldermen. It heads to the full City Council for a vote on Wednesday.

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