Pubdate: Wed, 12 Apr 2006 Source: Daily Herald-Tribune, The (CN AB) Copyright: 2006 The Daily Herald-Tribune Contact: http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/804 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?188 (Outlaw Bikers) TAKING A STAND AGAINST CRIME City's Anti-Gang Program May Be Symbolic But It's A Start Biker gang members are no longer welcome in the City of Grande Prairie. The truth is, they never were, but in the past the city was hardpressed to do much about it but sit back and watch as bikers cruised in and around our city. On at least two occasions in recent memory, biker runs have been held in the area and, short of giving a few of the bikers citations for traffic violations, the bikers pretty much had their run of the city - -- as long as they stayed out of trouble. It was an eerie sight for Grande Prairie residents -- the bad guys roaring through town and thumbing their noses and almost daring the authorities to do something about it. But that may no longer be the case after Monday, when city council adopted a program entitled No Gang Colours, No Gang Clothing. Under the voluntary program , the city will lend its support to any business that wants to participate in, essentially, what is a ban of gang colours in city facilities and commercial establishments that come on board. The city is covering the cost of printing signage for the program, which businesses can get for free to display on their premises. The signs will make it clear to any bikers and biker wannabes that anyone wearing gang colours will be in violation of the Property Act and Petty Trespass Act. If the business owner's request for the offensive clothing to be removed from the premises is not adhered to, the violator will be subject to a fine. With fines of up to $2,000 for a first offence and as high as $5,000 for subsequent offences, the penalties for those who want to force the issue are not exactly loose change. The program is similar to ones put into effect in a few Ontario communities, including Toronto. The city feels the program has some teeth because legal challenges to it would be challenging the constitutional right for property owners to dictate who is allowed on, or in, their premises. Not that the city is expecting a legal battle anytime soon. As Mayor Wayne Ayling says, those associated with biker gangs are not likely to be fighting the city on this as they have bigger fish to fry. And that is precisely the reason the city doesn't want them associating with members of the public. Gangs such as the Hells Angels, the Red Demons, and the Indian Posse - -- to name a few -- who have set up shop in the area are doing so because there's an opportunity to make some money through prostitution and the sale of drugs, and whatever other schemes they come up with. One of the unfortunate byproducts of having a vibrant community is that criminals gravitate to that situation. The police know that, our city officials know that and most residents know that as well. We say most residents because, as Ald. Dwight Logan noted at Monday's council meeting, there were some who supported the bikers during one of their recent runs in our city and felt they were getting picked on by police. Logan's right when he says that this new program is about -- at least initially -- winning the public relations battle with glorified bikers who many still admire and think they're cool. At the very least, if this programs helps to change that, it will have proven its worth. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman