Spitting on a city street can result in a hefty fine, according to a Minneapolis ordinance.
Under the city ordinance, it is illegal for any person to spit on a city sidewalk, bus or in a public area in Minneapolis. Here’s the full text of the ordinance:
No person shall spit or expectorate or deposit or place any sputum, spittle, saliva, phlegm, mucus, tobacco juice, cigarette stumps, cigar stumps or quids of tobacco upon the floor, walls or stairway or any part of any public hall or building, depot, market, theater, church or place of public amusement; or upon, into or through any grating, area or stairway; or upon any sidewalk of any public street; or upon the floor, furnishings or equipment of any motor bus while it is in use upon the streets of the city.”
21-year-old Myles Thomas learned that lesson the hard way after he was cited for spitting on the sidewalk while walking to get pizza with his friends.
“It is a little wacky,” said Thomas. “I mean, what can you do though? It is the law. You’re supposed to obey the laws of the land.”
Thomas received a $115 ticket for his actions.
Residents Claims Racism
Although the law is currently on the books, Minneapolis residents are asking for the city council to remove the spitting ordinance and a lurking law that they say unfairly targets minorities. Two city council members have heard the cries of residents, and they’ve vocally called for the elimination of both laws.
Maria Mitchell, president of the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, said the spitting and lurking laws are similar to Jim Crow laws of old.
“Of course, they’re not ending up on chain gangs here,” said Mitchell. “But what we’re seeing is people are being plucked out of their everyday lives to go to court, be in jail and then to be released for lack of probable cause, to be released because the case gets dismissed, but not before you’re plucked out of your life.”
According to statistics presented in favor of eliminating the laws:
- African Americans were more likely to be arrested for lurking than white people.
- White people were more likely to phone police about a suspected lurker.
- Spitting citations did not show significant racial bias, but council members still want the law off the books.
Not all are in favor of changing the laws. Lt. Bob Kroll said he believes the laws should stay in place, and he doesn’t think they unfairly target people of color.
“Oftentimes in the lurking cases, there’s a 911 caller that’s providing the description of somebody that’s doing something,” he said. “So for the officers to stop anyone other than what’s described in the call would be foolish for them.”
The Minneapolis city council’s public safety committee will hold a public hearing in two weeks and then hold a vote to decide whether or not to reveal the spitting and lurking laws.
Related source: MPR News, FOX News
