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Dress Code

MARIN COUNTY FAIR DRESS CODE POLICY

Purpose

In order to promote a family-friendly, non-violent atmosphere, it is the policy of Marin County to forbid, while on the grounds of the Marin County Fair while the fair is ongoing, the wearing of identifiers of designated criminal street gangs, as referenced in Penal Code Section 186.22, in a manner specified in Section 9.09.070.

Street gang identifier categories

The following types of identifiers of designated criminal street gangs are subject to the Marin County Fair Dress Code:

  1. Category one: Identifiers with the name, initials, or symbol of a designated criminal street gang.
  2. Category two: Identifiers associated with a designated criminal street gang that does not fall into category one.

Designation of criminal street gang identifiers

In order to carry out this policy, each year, a person designated by the Marin County Sheriff who is a peace officer and who has received specialized advance training regarding criminal street gangs shall provide a comprehensive list of known active criminal street gangs and the identifiers associated with them. The expert shall designate the identifiers as either category one or category two, as specified in Section 9.09.020.

Listing of criminal street gang identifiers

This Marin County Fair Dress Code Policy and the list of prohibited identifiers associated with active criminal street gangs shall be set forth on the Marin County Fair’s web site not less than seven days before the start date of the Marin County Fair each year.

As the fair takes place, the designated criminal street gang expert or any other peace officer who has received specialized advanced training regarding criminal street gangs, may add or delete certain criminal street gang identifiers from the Marin County Dress Code Policy, as developments at the fair warrant. In that event, the Marin County Dress Code Policy and list of prohibited identifiers kept by the attendants at each entrance to the fair, as specified in Section 9.09.050, shall be immediately updated to reflect that revision. The Marin County Fair web site shall be updated to reflect that revision as soon as practicable thereafter.

Enforcement of the modified list of prohibited identifiers associated with active criminal street gangs may begin after any one of the following actions has been taken:

  1. The change has been posted on the Marin County Fair web site.
  2. The change has been posted on a copy of the Marin County Fair Dress Code Policy and list of prohibited identifiers kept by the attendants at each entrance to the fair, as specified in Section 9.09.050.
  3. When an individual determined by any peace officer who has received specialized advance training regarding criminal street gangs determines that an individual is wearing a newly recognized identifier of a criminal street gang and personally informs the individual that the Marin County Fair Dress Code Policy and list of prohibited identifiers will be amended to include such identifier. For purposes of enforcement under Section 9.09.060, the newly recognized identifier shall be treated like any other category one or category two identifier, as the case may be, of a criminal street gang.

Signage and copies of the Marin County Fair Dress Code Policy and list of prohibited identifiers

A sign shall be displayed at each entrance to the Marin County Fair that states the following: “The display of identifiers associated with criminal street gangs is prohibited at the Marin County Fair. You may ask the attendant to see a copy of the Marin County Fair Dress Code Policy and list of prohibited identifiers.” attendants at each entrance shall make available for inspection to any fairgoer who requests it, a copy of the Marin County Fair Dress Code Policy and list of prohibited identifiers.

Enforcement of the Marin County Fair Dress Code Policy

When a peace officer on duty who has received specialized advance training regarding criminal street gangs determines that a fairgoer is violating the Marin County Fair Dress Code Policy by displaying, in a manner prohibited by this policy, identifiers associated with a designated criminal street gang, the peace officer may require of the fairgoer that he or she conceal from view or remove the identifier or leave the fair.

Marin County Fair Dress Code Policy

While on the grounds of the Marin County Fair while the fair is ongoing, each of the following violates the Marin County Dress Code Policy:

  • The wearing or displaying of one or more category one identifiers of a designated criminal street gang.
  • The wearing or displaying of two or more category two identifiers of a criminal street gang.
  • The wearing of one or more category two identifiers of a designated criminal street gang, combined with reasonable suspicion by a peace officer on duty who has received specialized advance training regarding criminal street gangs that the fairgoer is a criminal street gang member or associate wearing a category two identifier to signify such membership or association. For purposes of this section, reasonable suspicion may be found, but is not limited to, the following situations:
    • The fairgoer is a certified or verified criminal street gang member.
    • The fairgoer is congregating with one or more individuals who are certified or verified criminal gang members.
    • The fairgoer is flashing criminal gang signs or is congregating with one or more individuals flashing criminal gang signs.
    • The fairgoer has an exposed criminal gang tattoo or is congregating with one or more individuals with exposed criminal gang tattoos.
    • The fairgoer is congregating with one or more individuals who are also wearing one or more category one or category two identifiers of a designated criminal street gang.
    • Statements the fairgoer makes to the peace officer lead that peace officer to conclude that the fairgoer is a criminal street gang member or associate wearing the category two identifier to signify such membership or association.

Incident report

Whenever a peace officer expels a fairgoer under Section 9.09.060 for violating the Marin County Fair Dress Code Policy, he or she shall complete an incident report that specifies the basis for the expulsion and, where applicable, the basis for the reasonable suspicion that the fairgoer is a criminal street gang member or associate wearing a category two identifier to signify such membership or association.

In the event a peace officer takes any enforcement action pursuant to Section 9.09.060 that is based upon a newly recognized criminal gang identifier, as defined by Subsection 9.09.040(C), a similar incident report shall be completed.

Criminal Gang Unit