La Crosse loitering law, unconstitutional

Council will be asked to
clean up rule at meeting

La Crosse has a loitering law. It’s just, maybe, not a terribly constitutional one.

That’s the read on loitering rules from the city attorney’s office, which is why the city council is getting asked to clean up the rule a little in meetings next month.

City attorney Stephen Matty said the city’s current rules on loitering are messy and may be unconstitutional. The new rules would streamline what is considered loitering and how police enforce it.

Essentially, the new rules would lead to a loitering violation if you’re blocking a street, bridge or sidewalk and refuse when police tell you to move on.

Current rules provide much greater leeway about who can enforce the rules. Loitering in posted areas would also be illegal.