Big changes are brewing in Centralia! The City Council is moving to toughen up laws on public alcohol consumption and introduce new criminal offenses for specific types of loitering. Police believe these new misdemeanor offenses will provide crucial tools to enhance public safety in our parks and communal areas. What’s your take on these stricter measures?
The Centralia City Council is on the verge of enacting significant changes to its municipal code, poised to elevate penalties for open alcohol container violations and introduce new criminal offenses targeting loitering. This legislative move underscores a proactive approach to bolster Centralia Public Safety across the city’s public spaces.
Currently, individuals found consuming or possessing an open container of liquor in public face a non-arrestable civil infraction. However, Ordinance 2567, which recently passed its first reading, seeks to reclassify this as a misdemeanor offense, granting law enforcement the authority to make arrests and potentially impose jail time on violators.
Beyond alcohol-related infractions, the proposed ordinance also establishes two distinct Loitering Ordinance misdemeanors. The first specifically addresses individuals who loiter in public places for the express purpose of engaging in prohibited Drug-Related Loitering activities, providing a clearer legal framework for police intervention.
The second new loitering offense is designed to safeguard vulnerable populations, making it unlawful to loiter within 330 feet of child-oriented locations in a manner that could instill fear for safety or security in a reasonable person or child, thereby creating safer environments for the community.
These robust legislative changes were spearheaded by the Centralia Police Department, which approached the city attorney’s office to develop Criminal Offenses that would equip officers with enhanced Law Enforcement tools to tackle pervasive issues stemming from drug and alcohol activities in public parks and other communal areas.
Understanding the high judicial scrutiny often faced by loitering laws, Ordinance 2567 has been meticulously crafted to be narrowly tailored, focusing on specific behaviors in specific locations. Furthermore, it wisely incorporates exemptions for activities authorized by valid licenses or permits, such as sidewalk cafes and special events, preventing unintended penalization.
During the City Council Vote discussions, Mayor Kelly Smith Johnston raised critical questions regarding potential “unconscious or subconscious bias” in the application of these new laws, particularly concerning people of color or those experiencing homelessness. Chief Andy Caldwell affirmed the department’s commitment to regular bias training and evaluations to ensure equitable enforcement.
Chief Caldwell further emphasized that the primary goal of officers applying these new regulations would be education and the provision of resources. He articulated that while the department initially aims to help individuals, if those efforts are exhausted and problems persist, these new tools enable law enforcement to take further action, ensuring Community Policing effectiveness and maintaining public order.
