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Utah House approves bill targeting gang activity after heated debate over enforcement and racial profiling
Summary
After extended floor debate and a failed amendment to narrow enforcement powers, the Utah House passed Senate Bill 16 to create temporary "gang‑free zones," require training for officers, and impose dispersal and short‑term penalties for re‑congregation. Supporters said it tools to prevent violence; critics warned of potential racial profiling.
The Utah House passed Senate Bill 16, a measure criminalizing certain organized gang behavior within designated "gang‑free zones," after prolonged floor debate and an unsuccessful amendment to limit enforcement language.
Representative Oda, the House sponsor, told members the bill allows a trained officer to order the dispersal of known gang members gathered in a designated area and creates an eight‑hour dispersal window before criminal penalties apply for re‑congregation. He said the measure is modeled on laws adopted in other states and is intended to give law enforcement a tool to prevent intimidation and violence.
Representative Litback offered Amendment No. 1 to narrow the dispersal language—so law enforcement would order only those actively…
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