Public Fighting, Other Offenses Added to Barrington’s Village Code

Barrington police will have new village laws to enforce, including public urination. 

Public urination, along with fighting in public view, is one of the new ordinances being added to the Village Code. Anyone caught in the act can be given a citation, which can carry a fine or community service, authorities said.

Interim Police Chief Dave Dorn recently presented amendments to the Village Code, updating laws and adding new ones. The Board of Trustees approved those changes Monday.

Barrington’s Village Code has local ordinances dealing with various offenses, like disorderly conduct, but it didn’t have ordinances for other offenses, like fighting in public view, Dorn said. Public fighting fell under disorderly conduct, he said.

The amendments makes fighting in public view an offense unto itself, Dorn said. New ordinances include public indecency and public intoxication, he said.

Adding the ordinances helps enhance village safety and improve the police department’s overall effectiveness, he said.

Recent court decision required language changes to other ordinances including disorderly conduct, firearms and weapons, assault and battery, obscenity and offensive conduct, he said.

All the amendments take effect in 10 days.