LITH to gang up on gangs

This morning's Northwest Herald reports a planned meeting in Lake in the Hills (LITH) to educate residents on what the police can and cannot do regarding gang activity. The meeting seems to be for the benefit of one neighborhood, but probably anyone can attend.

The LITH meeting will be at the Safety Education Center, 1109 Crystal Lake Road, Lake in the Hills, on Wednesday, August 5, 2009, at 7:00 PM.

The paper reported seven gang-related arrests in one neighborhood in July and also that the meeting this week was planned before the day of the arrests. The four arrested on Thursday were 18, 17, 16 and 15. The 15- and 16-year-old were charged with aggravated battery, mob action and unlawful contact with street gang members.

This last charge was a new one for me. What does it mean?

Illinois 720 ILCS 5/25-1.1. Unlawful Contact With Streetgang Members

(a) A person commits the offense of unlawful contact with streetgang members when:

(1) He or she knowingly has direct or indirect contact with a streetgang member as defined in Section 10 of the Illinois Streetgang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act [740 ILCS 147/10] after having been sentenced to probation, conditional discharge, or supervision for a criminal offense with a condition of such sentence being to refrain from direct or indirect contact with a streetgang member or members; or

(2) He or she knowingly has direct or indirect contact with a streetgang member as defined in Section 10 of the Illinois Streetgang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act [740 ILCS 147/10] after having been released on bond for any criminal offense with a condition of such bond being to refrain from direct or indirect contact with a streetgang member or members.

It appears that, to be charged with this section of the criminal code, the 15- and 16-year-olds must have some criminal history and must have violated a condition legally imposed on them.

LITH is to be commended for being pro-active in its community. What would it take to get this type of meeting in Woodstock? Residents need to know just what help they can expect from the police. Specifically.

How often do you drive on a street in Woodstock and find kids walking in the traffic lane like they own the town? Or tearing down South Street on a skateboard (or a bicycle), after dark and while wearing dark clothing? Oh, the cap twisted to the right or left on the head will protect them? Yeah, sure...

Should you have to drive on the wrong side of the street to avoid these kids, or should they be walking on the sidewalks?

Do the police ever ticket them? In May one Woodstock officer did ticket four skateboarders in the roadway. He was the only one who did, and he got four of them in one day.