Violations will carry stiffer penalties this Halloween after the Madison City Council amended ordinances last night.
\We're very pleased [the ordinances] were approved,"" said Noble Wray, acting Madison police chief. ""Now we need to spread the word so people will plan properly and voluntarily change their behavior.""
In a divided vote, the City Council approved amending Madison General Ordinances to increase fines for disorderly conduct and throwing of stones or other items. The general ordinances were also amended to increase the bail deposit amounts for violations of various laws regarding public health and safety and use of alcoholic beverages. Increasing fines was proposed by Mayor Dave Cieslewicz as a way to deter rowdy behavior on Halloween and a third year of rioting on State Street.
During extensive discussion before voting, several council members expressed concerns ranging from the inabilities of some offenders to pay high fines to the influence the higher fines could have on police issuing citations to meet quotas.
Ald. Brenda Konkel, District 2, questioned whether the fee increases would be seen by the community as a way to meet budget requirements.
""It absolutely will not be used as a way to increase the budget,"" Wray responded. ""It has been made clear that officers should base arrests on individual behavior.""
Ald. Andy Hedt, District 13, questioned the consequences involving someone not paying a citation. Following an unpaid citation, the individual would then be summoned to court and eventually an arrest warrant can be issued.
""Municipal violations can be criminalized, putting more people in our already crowded prisons for relatively minor violations,"" Hedt said.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, clarified that ""municipal ordinances will go to warrant in the most serious violations,"" such as disorderly conduct. The city is lenient to people who can't pay, allowing them to complete community service or payment plans, Verveer added.
While passed to deter problems on Halloween, the higher fees will last indefinitely. Konkel questioned this element of the ordinance, asking what would happen the rest of the year.
