Denver Will Ban Suspected Drug Users From City Parks

"After an increase in drug use along the Cherry Creek trail and in city parks, Denver Parks and Recreation issued a new directive to ban people caught using and dealing drugs," reports Fox31.

The temporary directive allows Denver Parks and Recreation "to give 90-day park suspensions, effectively banning anyone caught buying, selling, using or possessing illegal drugs for three months," following increasing complaints about heroin use on the Cherry Creek bike path.

The directive describes more leeway to suspend individuals from the park than that summary allows. In the words of the directive, "The person subject to the Suspension Notice need not be charged, tried or convicted of any crime, infraction, or administrative citation in order for the Suspension Notice to be issued or effective."

The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado has already taken to Facebook to express its concern with the directive, citing a "massive civil liberties problem."

One, the Constitution guarantees that you don't get punished in this country based on accusations alone without a right to defend yourself. It's called due process. Two, Denver has engaged in constant and continuous sweeps to push homeless people out of public spaces for months. There can be no public trust that this new power of unilateral banishment will be used justly and without abuse.

Hat tip to Jen Kinney for sharing news of the directive and its corresponding controversy.