Muriel Bowser introduces crime bill that includes ban on criminals wearing masks

Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser introduced legislation targeting rising crime in the district that includes installing a ban on criminals wearing face masks while committing a crime.

Bowser and Metropolitan acting Police Chief Pamela Smith announced the Addressing Crime Trends Now Act during a press conference on Monday. The act will “address recent crime trends” and give law enforcement more tools to hold criminals accountable. Bowser said several of the changes are “just plain common sense.”

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“We need to act now, and we need to send the strong message that violence is not acceptable in our city — and this perception that people have, that you can commit a brazen crime and get away with it, has got to stop,” Bowser said. “This legislation will help change that.”

“You should be proud in your city that we give people one chance, two chances, three chances, but your chances can affect my safety, and that’s what we’re here to talk about,” Bowser added.

The legislation comes at a time when crime is rising in Washington but going down in other big cities as the district struggles to shake off the wave that rose with the COVID-19 pandemic. A series of criminal justice reforms aimed at reducing discrimination in recent years has come under fire for going too far and allowing criminals to avoid arrest and jail time.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the city terminated a law that made it illegal to wear a mask for the purpose of committing criminal acts, intimidating people, or causing fear. However, the ACT Now Act will reinstate the law.

“Obviously, our community’s relationship around wearing masks has changed significantly since 2020, and thank God for that, but we’ve all seen the videos,” Bowser said.

The mayor pointed to a recent robbery at the Wharf last week, where four people who appeared to be armed and wearing ski masks jumped out of a car and stole multiple items from people nearby.

“And we need to address that,” Bowser continued, adding that these changes will not apply to those wearing masks for their health.

After months of criticism and pushback from community members and Congress, the ACT Now Act will also roll back a number of provisions of the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act, such as slightly loosening restrictions on vehicular pursuits and revising the definition of a police chokehold.

“MPD continues to be a leader in fair and constitutional policing across this nation,” Bowser said. “They continue to work every day to work and have the trust of our city and this legislation won’t change that.”

“It will, however, support the department in dealing with some of the negative consequences of the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Amendment Act,” Bowser continued. “Some of the changes that were made just don’t match the daily practice of safe and effective policing.”

The legislation will also allow police to limit loitering and declare “drug-free zones” for up to 120 hours, which was on the books from 1996 to 2014, and install stiffer penalties for retail theft, according to the legislation.

Bowser said the ACT Now Act will also create a crime category directed toward organized retail theft, making it illegal for “any person to organize a theft for profit scheme by recruiting or directing other individuals to commit organized retail theft.”

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“People want great businesses in their neighborhoods, they want to go to stores and restaurants, and they don’t want to have to worry about those businesses being robbed repeatedly and brazenly,” Bowser said.

As of Monday, total violent crime is up 41%, and total property crime is up 25% compared to this time last year. Robberies and motor vehicle theft are up 70% and 102%, respectively. This follows a trend within major cities in 2023, where violent crimes are decreasing but property crime and vehicle theft are rising significantly.