Red or Blue Clothing is Probable Cause for Arrest in St. Louis

Thanks to St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks, the streets will be safe from young hoodlums.   Mayor Parks has announced that teenage boys wearing red or royal blue may be subject to arrest if seen by the police. The wearing of those colors serves to implicate the young men are part of a gang.

Residents under the age of 17 also risk arrest if they are spotted between the hours of 8-3:30, or after 10 in the evening, no matter what color they happen to be wearing.  According to Parks there is absolutely no excuse for their presence at those times. “There should be no reason for our kids to be running to the store,” Parks said.

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, other activities will also be restricted “allowing youths only to attend school, after-school programs, church and work unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.”

The extreme measures come in response to 4 teenage fatalities due to violence over the weekend.

CBS News reports that “police will also perform I.D. checks on street corners and conduct gun searches, and Parks says he won’t hesitate to call in the National Guard if the spike in violence continues.”

Mayor Parks is unconcerned about the constitutionality of the new restrictions. The recent wave of crime , he says, is the probable cause for his extreme actions.

Continuing on the police state theme, residents of East St Louis must be prepared to present ID at any time. “Vehicles that are moving will be stopped and searched for guns, weapons, drugs, and open alcohol and any other violations that are taking place,” Parks told CBS St. Louis. “People who are walking, people who are bicycling, can be stopped and searched for the same and, when it comes to state IDs, we’re going to be confirming that state IDs are in place for everyone involved.”

To summarize, probable cause for search and arrest in St. Louis now includes:

• The wearing of red or royal blue clothing
• Riding a bicycle
• Residents under the age of 17 being spotted on the streets after school hours
• Driving
• Residents under the age of 17 being out after 10 pm
• Failing to have ID

The outrageous restrictions have civil rights groups up in arms. “You can’t simply outlaw a color. It just doesn’t work that way, especially when you’re talking about possible detention or arrest,” said Edwin Yohnka, director of public policy for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois.

Apparently in Mayor Parks’ version of St Louis, his personal feelings are enough justification to trump that document of protection, the US Constitution, and redefine “probable cause”.

~ Hat tip to Joe~