Flash Mob Legislation Not Needed, Says Law Director

While communities around Northeast Ohio are scrambling to deal with flash mobs, Lakewood officials say that's not need in Lakewood.

Law Director Kevin Butler presented with a letter on Monday night letting them know that there already laws on the books that cover most of the activities related to flash mobs. 

“Flash mobs — from what an average person could gather, these are hordes of people, usually youth, who congregate at a predetermined place and time to socialize loiter or disrupt normal activities — have generated questions and occasional legislation from councilmembers in nearby cities,” Butler said in the letter.

In June, hundreds of youth congregated in the street on in Cleveland Heights with no real purpose. Fights broke out, and 16 teenagers were arrested. The .

In Strongsville, rap artist Machine Gun Kelly at the Westfield SouthPark Mall — but it ended as soon as it began.

But in Cleveland, a proposed ordinance banning the use of social media to encourage flash mobs leading to unlawful activity was OK’d by council but dropped after the mayor vetoed the ordinance citing First Amendment concerns.

Butler said it’s best just to leave the issue alone.

“I don’t think it’s necessary,” he said. “Unless council demands it. “

He said there are already laws on the books that cover what legislation would seek to achieve. For example, an unlawful congregational ordinance prevents people from impeding the flow of pedestrian traffic. If crowds get unruly, Butler said that disorderly conduct charges could be filed.

Lakewood has had a laws in place since 1969 that would help to thwart unlawful flash mobs.

“Worse behavior than unlawful congregation of course could and would likely result in prosecution for other offenses,” Butler said in his letter to council. “Thus while the city continues to monitor these types of activities online and elsewhere, I am of the opinion that additional legislation is unnecessary for the purpose of preventing flash mobs that lead to unruly behavior.”