The City Council has unanimously approved an executive order on the code of conduct and attire for the July 3, 4 Clearfield Pride Days.
This is the second year for the code, which officials say comprises regulations aimed at gang members. Police don't believe any others will be affected."We had it (the executive order) last year," Clearfield Police Chief Morton Sparks said. "We just updated it from last year."
The executive order bans gang insignias and clothing, gang hand signs and weapons. It also mentions overly baggy trousers worn for the purpose of gang approval. Jackets, bandannas and ball caps (worn backward) and anything else related to gang membership are prohibited.
Sparks said there's little chance that non-gang members attending the celebration who may innocently wear such attire would be singled out by the police.
"Our people know who the gangs are," Sparks said. "They'll tell you who they are."
He said the order was drafted after the 1994 Fourth of July Celebration when police intelligence indicated there could be a gang war at the holiday events.
"We just needed a little edge," Sparks said, indicating the police didn't have to use the code against any person or gang last year.
He said a few gang members wearing T-shirts with insignias were asked to turn them inside out last year during Independence Day festivities, and a few youths were asked to leave their hats in their cars.
"No one was expelled last year," Sparks said. "We never had to invoke anything else last year."
Sparks was amused that so many radio stations were poking fun at the city Wednesday morning for its executive order.
The Clearfield executive order is effective from July 3 at 5 p.m. through midnight on July 4. It was patterned after an order that Layton City has used for the past two years.
Clearfield's Pride Days includes a July 3 street dance and car show at 7 p.m. On Independence Day, it features a chuck wagon breakfast, food booths, games, rides, a parade, a "Hogs and Hosers" softball game and a concert in the park from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. - prior to a fireworks display.