CANADA - Nightclubs ban gang colours

OFF THE WIRE
The Hells Angels and other gxxgs are now banned from wearing their jackets and other "colours" in two popular Saskatoon nightclubs. The new policy at Outlaws Country Rock Bar and Beily's Ultralounge follows recent incidents which endangered staff and customers, said a source with knowledge of the policy.

"They don't need that bulls---anymore. There will be no gxxg colours allowed," the source said.

A Hells Angels "hang around" - one of several designations acquired in the process of gaining "full patch" status - was personally banned from Beily's after he recently punched one of the owners in the face, the source said.

Three men were also kicked out of Beily's this summer for reasons that are unclear. According to a police report at the time, they attacked staff in the parking lot of the Eighth Street bar with a knife and pepper spray, then returned an hour later, throwing a Molotov cocktail filled with whiskey at the bar. It's unclear whether that was the work of any gxxg members, the source said, adding gxxg members have also intimidated staff, and the sight of gxxg members in full regalia made many customers uncomfortable.

Bouncers and other staff have been instructed to inform any gxxg members of the new policy.

A sign is now posted outside Outlaws, banning "gxxg wear" and other clothing associated with gxxgs.

Door staff will offer to check any gxxg jackets at the door.

"They are still allowed. Just don't wear your colours and come have a good time," the source said.

If gxxg members try to enter the bar with their colours, bouncers will attempt to keep them out. If gxxg members do not comply, police will be called, the source said.

The owners of the two bars - nearly a dozen shareholders in total - want the staff and customers to feel safe. They also saw that the gxxgs were costing them money.

"If there's one fight, the bar clears out and look how much money is lost," the source said.

The provincial government attempted a similar ban several years ago. Legislation prohibited wearing "any sign, symbol, logo or other representation identifying, associated with or promoting a gxxg or a criminal organization." A first offence carried a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $10,000 fine. The law was successfully appealed by Hells Angels members who said it violated their constitutional rights.

The Saskatchewan Party government did not appeal that ruling, but vowed to revise the legislation. Yogi Huyghebaert, then the minister of corrections, public safety and policing, said revisions would include the names of specific gxxgs.

According to a Saskatchewan Justice official, the original law is still in place but is not being enforced. The law is, however, under review, the official said.

The leader of the Saskatoon chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club could not be reached for comment. The group's lawyer, Morris Bodnar, declined to comment Monday.

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Nightclubs+gang+colours/8866700/story.html