Tucson Crowd-Control Ordinance To Be Rewritten

Published: Wednesday, March 18, 2015 - 8:30am

A day before the University of Arizona is set play in the NCAA basketball tournament, the Tucson City Council has pulled a proposed crowd-control ordinance.

The council plans to rewrite the measure after some council members and the public voiced their concerns.

Critics said the ordinance, which was drafted by the Tucson Police Department, was too broad.

The measure would have allowed the police chief to restrict access to an area where at least 100 people had gathered. It would have also made it a misdemeanor to wear masks or to refuse to leave when ordered by police.

The ordinance came in response to several post-game disturbances, including a 2014 riot involving hundreds of people.