Explanation
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this ordinance is to amend section 2311.21 of the Columbus City Codes, which pertains to the crime of criminal trespass, and introduce provisions dealing with trespass at airport facilities.
Airports around the country have been increasingly subjected to unauthorized access at the screening checkpoints by individuals carrying weapons, the vast majority of which are firearms. Officials discovered 4,432 firearms at passenger screening checkpoints in the United States last year, an increase of 100% in the last five years. Three out of four of these firearms were loaded, and a quarter of them had a round chambered to fire. At Columbus airports, the pattern has been similar. John Glenn International Airport saw 29 guns going through the checkpoints in 2019, an increase of 20% over the previous year. Over 80% of these firearms were loaded. Given the difficulty to prove intent, there is little way currently to prosecute this type of trespass that can put air travelers in Columbus and destinations around the country in danger.
To aid in this effort, the City is proposing a change to the criminal trespass code that specifically highlights passenger and property screening checkpoints as secure areas and declaring that a person in violation of that subsection is guilty of reckless trespass, a second-degree misdemeanor. The new code would also allow for a weapon carried by the trespasser to be seized by law enforcement.
The Columbus Regional Airport Authority (CRAA) is a leading partner in this effort, with commitments to additional signage and possible audio systems warnings throughout the airport terminals. Together, these changes will further the City’s efforts to increase the safety of residents and visitors in the City of Columbus and around the country.
Title
To amend section 2311.21 of the Columbus City Codes pertaining to criminal trespass and introduce provisions for trespass at airport facilities, and to r...
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