ACLU opposes Chicago alderman's plan to crack down on 'prostitution-related loitering'

The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois has come out against a West Side alderman’s proposal to outlaw “prostitution-related loitering” in zones to be created by the Chicago Police Department, saying the plan is vague and could lead to people getting arrested based on how they’re dressed.

Under a plan from Ald. Jason Ervin, 28th, the police superintendent could designate zones that are “frequently associated with prostitution-related loitering.” Police could order people to leave those zones if the officers decided they intend to engage in prostitution. Anyone who returned to the area within eight hours of the police order to leave could be fined up to $500 or sent to prison for up to six months.

ACLU of Illinois spokesman Ed Yohnka took a dim view of the proposal, saying in a statement that the language is vague “and seems to encourage police to order people to disperse or even arrest them for what may be innocent and constitutionally protected behavior.”

Yohnka said a similar rule in New York City resulted in police arresting people based on how they were dressed, where they were standing, whether they had money on them or whom they were speaking to. “That doesn’t help anything,” he said.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-prostitution-loitering-chicago-20171116-story.html