Grand Rapids to nix ‘unconstitutional,’ ‘unenforceable’ ban on wilfully annoying actions

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – It’s soon expected to be OK to be wilfully annoying in Grand Rapids.

The Grand Rapids Press reports (http://bit.ly/1cqxCRm ) the City Commission is nixing a 38-year-old section of city code that states “no person shall wilfully annoy another person.”

City Attorney Catherine Mish recommended repealing the language, saying the wording is “unconstitutional in terms of being vague” and “simply unenforceable.” A final decision is expected March 11.

Even with the change, related crimes such as obstructing someone in a public place or assault would still be on the books.

Mish has been scouring city code to find archaic rules.

Last year, rules that got a look included one prohibiting people from riding horses on a sidewalk and another allowing jail time for failing to return a library book.

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Information from: The Grand Rapids Press, http://www.mlive.com/grand-rapids

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