Summary:
- The new boundary includes the Plaza Hotel and Main Street Station parking garage.
- People with misdemeanor offenses are banned to reduce crime.
- The area is now 29 acres larger.
Yesterday, the Las Vegas City Council unanimously approved a decision to expand the city’s ‘order-out corridor’ by 29 acres to reduce the local crime rate.
The new boundary includes the Main Street Station parking garage and Plaza Hotel (picutured). The goal is to remove people who have committed misdemeanor offenses in the area from accessing tourist sectors.
Banning is Now Possible
With the decision, a judge can now ban people from tourist corridors if they have committed a misdemeanor in that order-out corridor. The American Civil Liberties Union opposed the expansion of the ban, stating it could be challenged due to similar legislation in Clark County.
The ACLU says that expanding the order-out corridor boundary before the ordinance’s application to the constitution is decided is premature and could lead to further legal issues. The group feels any order-out changes should wait until the court rules on the Clark County matter.
Two years ago, Clark County passed an ordinance that created an order-out corridor that goes through most of the Las Vegas Strip and nearby properties. This order allows the court to stop people from visiting as part of a suspended sentence or deferred action.
The ACLU filed a joint amicus brief to support Ackeem Ramsay, a man on supervised probation who was banned from the corridor housing Las Vegas resorts. The ACLU claims that the proposal targeted people accused of low-level, nonviolent offenses and has been a basis for hundreds of arrests in the past year.
Protecting the Tourist Areas
Officials in Las Vegas feel the orders are set up to protect tourists and residents in high-traffic areas. There are some exceptions for the order-out corridor, including allowing people who live or need to work in these areas.
Those who need medical attention or legal services can also freely pass through. They can also access federal, state, or local social programs. Religious services, legal appearance needs, and public transportation access are also included.
Last year, City Attorney Jeff Dorocak stated that the ordinance aims to take on chronic offenders. The Metro Police would be able to ban individuals from specific areas for repeated misdemeanors in the area rather than send the person to jail.
Reports indicate that trespassing is the most frequent offense, followed by battery and obstructing or giving false information to an officer. The changes appear to be taking effect in Las Vegas, but there is no doubt that the ACLU will continue to fight the matter.
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