Hanahan studies loitering code

Criminal activity is common along Remount Road and has been a thorn in the side of law enforcement agents for years.

Prostitution, drug sales, loitering and property crimes are common along this stretch of road.

The city of Hanahan is now considering an addition to its code of ordinances regarding loitering that would address the problem.

Hanahan Police Chief Don Wilcox presented a draft of the ordinance at City Council's meeting on Aug. 12. No action was taken on the proposal, allowing the police chief and city officials to revise the language of the ordinance.

This is the first such loitering ordinance for the city and was created specifically to address the portion of Remount Road that sits within Hanahan city limits, Wilcox said.

"We have had increasing complaints from people in the business community," Wilcox said. "They are frustrated that the cities have not been able to fully address the situation."

Several individuals within the business community met in May at Beyond the Church Walls Ministry Church in Hanahan to talk about crime along Remount Road and urge Hanahan and North Charleston police departments to work together on the problem.

The agencies can assist each other during arrests. But additional authority within jurisdictions may have to come through the S.C. General Assembly, Wilcox said.

"It's going to take a cooperative effort between citizens, businesses and both cities to resolve all issues that are a concern with this," Wilcox said. "It's not something we can do on our own. Everybody's going to have to work together."

The city of North Charleston enacted its loitering ordinance more than a year ago. Hanahan is modeling its ordinance after North Charleston's. Hanahan City Council plans to address the loitering proposal at a workshop in September, City Administrator Hal Mason said.

"I'm for anything that will help (law enforcement) do their job," Mason said. "We just want to make sure we're not doing something that's unnecessary or something that impedes other people's rights."

Reach Jasiri Whipper at 745-5863 or jwhipper@postandcourier.com.