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On December 18, 2009, the provincial court in Saskatoon, Canada, ruled that a law banning the wearing of club "colors" in public was unconstitutional. The law, Section 60.1 of The Safer Communities and Neighborhoods Act, was supposedly designed to protect communities and make them safer. In reality, the law does nothing to make communities any safer and more pointedly, it violates basic freedoms of expression and speech.
Judge Albert Lavoie ruled that all charges be dropped against Jesse Leigh Bitz, who was charged under Section 60.1 for wearing his club colors in a Saskatoon bar. It is not known if the Crown will appeal the decision. Meanwhile, several people facing similar charges have learned that their hearing has been postponed until January 11, 2010.
This ruling is encouraging, given the number of like cases and situations in the United States. These rulings do not prohibit private businesses from posting dress codes, but they do prohibit government agencies from coercing private enterprise to conform with what the state thinks is proper.