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Health & Fitness

County Fair Dress Code Deemed a Success

Officials at the Marin County Fair made no ejections to fairgoers based on the new fair dress code ordinance adopted by the Marin County Board of Supervisors in June.

Undersheriff Mike Ridgway said deputies from the Marin County Sheriff’s Office and fair personnel did not have to ask any fairgoers to remove or conceal an item prohibited by the dress code, adopted to discourage and curtail possible gang members from influencing others by advertising their affiliations – “showing colors” -- during their visit to the Marin County Fairgrounds July 3-7. The newly enacted Chapter 09.09 of the Marin County Code, “Marin County Fair Dress Code Policy,” is being seen by County officials as a successful deterrent to such activity.

Also, there was a 30 percent reduction in arrests made at the fair compared with one year ago, Ridgway said. Arrests were for simple public intoxication, a strong-armed robbery of a cell phone, misdemeanor domestic violence, and one instance of battery on a peace officer and resisting arrest.

Known criminal street gang members did attend the fair, he said, but none wore insignia of gang membership. Those fairgoers were not contacted by law enforcement because no violation of the ordinance was demonstrated.

“That absence of gang attire is what Chapter 09.09 had envisioned, and it appears clear now that is exactly what its passage has accomplished,” Ridgway said.

The Sheriff’s Office complied with requests from supervisors Steve Kinsey and Susan Adams to report the number of contacts made with fairgoers about the new dress code, even if no ejection from the fairgrounds was made.

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