Two members of the Honolulu City Council, Rod Tam and Nestor Garcia, co-sponsored a transit bill that includes an anti-odor section that would make it illegal to “bring onto transit property odors that unreasonably disturb others or interfere with their use of the transit system, whether such odors arise from one’s person, clothes, articles, accompanying animal or any other source.” [Bill 59-09, Sec. 13-3.1 (13)].

Just how “smelly” is smelly? The local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is concerned that the bill is too broadly worded. “Vague laws — like the proposed ‘odor’ ban — open the door to discriminatory enforcement based on an officer’s individual prejudices,” said Daniel Gluck, of ACLU Hawaii.

Under the proposed bill, a person found in violation the ordinance may be ordered to leave transit property and issued a summons or citation by a police officer. Persons convicted of such an offense could be fined up to $500, spend up to six months in jail, or be both fined and jailed.

[Source: honoluluadvertiser.com]

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copyright 2009 Irene C. Olszewsk