TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Tallahassee city commissioners are voting whether or not to ban mass gatherings with more than 10 people.
The ordinance would prohibit large gatherings of 10 or more people in outdoor spaces on Friday and Saturday nights between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.
Outdoor spaces as defined in the ordinance include parking lots, streets, parks, playgrounds and fields, as well as driveways, pools, pool decks and yards ancillary to multifamily residential developments.
Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell says the steps in place haven't been working, saying "large pop-up gatherings" are continuing to happen.
Chief Revell lists the Relish parking lot as one of more than 10 locations, others being gas stations, where TPD has responded to calls of people meeting up in large groups, drinking publicly and loudly until early hours of the morning.
TPD says it's not only dangerous for COVID-19 but violence too.
Revell's notes give the example of the Marathon on South Adams Street where someone was shot to death in early July.
Only one person spoke out against the ban at the meeting, saying people need more time to be able to decide whether it's right or not.
Exceptions to this rule would be temporary housing, restaurants, and university properties.
