Hammond officials propose gas station curfew
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Hammond city leaders are considering a new proposal to curb late night violence.
The city’s common council has proposed an ordinance that would close all gas stations between midnight and 5 a.m.
The proposal follows a homicide last month that took place around 2 a.m. at a gas station in the city, Hammond officials say.
If enacted, the ordinance would affect most of the 37 gas stations in the Hammond city limits. Although some stations already close before midnight and would observe existing agreements, according to city officials.
Those officials say they hope the effort can reduce crime such as car jackings, robberies, batteries, shots fired, criminal recklessness and homicide.
Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. said he supports the proposal and will sign an ordinance if passed by the common council.
“My job as mayor is to ensure the public’s safety and this ordinance removes a place where, unfortunately, violent incidents continue to take place,” McDermott said in a news release. “I can’t sit back and see innocent people become victims of violent crime.”
The mayor pointed to the frequency of Illinois residents crossing state lines to pump gas in Indiana where taxes are cheaper.
“Cross border crime continues to be one of our greatest police challenges,” McDermott said. “Gas stations have become too frequent a place late at night where crimes occur.”
The proposed ordinance will allow gas stations to petition the city’s Board of Public Works and Safety for an exception to its potential midnight to 5 p.m. closure rule. The City Council will meet to consider the ordinance at 6 p.m. July 10 at Hammond’s City Hall.