§ 14-564. Purpose.

(a)

The mayor and city council of have the authority to eradicate the ills of society caused by criminal street gangs whose members disrupt the health, safety, and welfare of all of its residents. The crimes being committed by criminal street gang members include serious offenses such as murder by drive-by shootings, aggravated assault, robberies, burglaries and drug-related crimes.

(b)

F.S. ch. 874 was created with the intent to eradicate the terror created by criminal street gangs and their members by providing enhanced penalties and by eliminating the patterns, profits, proceeds, instrumentalities and property facilitating criminal street gang activity, including criminal street gang recruitment. The mayor and city council adopt this division to provide protection, public order and safety in public places within the city under the authority granted in article VII, section 2(b) of the state Constitution, and F.S. § 166.021 to protect the health, safety and welfare of its citizens.

(Ord. No. 2008-26-162, § 1, 7-9-2008)