Bill > H1517

This bill establishes "municipal judicial safety zones" in areas where courts are located or court business is conducted, allowing municipalities to designate these zones after consulting with the Trial Court and local District Attorneys, with boundaries clearly defined and published. Within these zones, civil actions can be brought to stop specific gang activities, including witness and victim intimidation, unlawful firearm possession and transfer, drug trafficking, discharging firearms from vehicles, and threats of serious harm. These actions can be filed in superior or district courts and may result in court orders to stop such activities, along with potential monetary damages and property forfeiture, with no filing fees required; any court order issued will be for a fixed period of 2 to 3 years and will clearly state that violation is a criminal offense, punishable by up to a year in jail. The bill also allows for civil actions against gangs and their members for intimidating witnesses or victims, regardless of whether a criminal case has been filed or concluded, and permits courts to issue temporary orders, even without notice in cases of immediate danger, to protect the community within these safety zones.