Glendale : Trespassing Law Amended

The Glendale City Council on Tuesday amended a city trespassing ordinance to grant police greater flexibility in arresting loiterers on private property.

The new law was drawn as a result of increasing complaints from business owners and residents about day laborers who congregate at popular pickup areas, such as Broadway and Jackson Street.

City Atty. Scott H. Howard maintains that the law does not infringe on civil liberties and will serve as another means to help control vandalism and invasion of private property.

Under the amended ordinance, which will go into effect in 30 days, property owners can make a written request--renewable every 90 days--to the police, asking officers to enforce the trespassing law without the owner being on the property. As a result, confrontations between property owners and trespassers are expected to be reduced and violations more efficiently enforced, officials said.