Police Capt. Jason Rogers is glad another law has been added to the books: Spitting on people, sidewalks and other property has been banned. The law has raised a few eyebrows and caused a few chuckles but for Rogers, it’s not a laughing matter.

“I’ve been spit on several times,” he said Tuesday. In all those incidents, the person who spat on the police officer wasn’t charged with a crime. If it happens again, they will be, he said.

“Those ordinances are now in effect,” Rogers said.

The Gering City Council passed the ordinances Jan. 11 and after the laws were signed and placed in the city codebook, they took effect. Rogers said no citations have since been issued for the offenses.

The laws were passed in part as Gering and Scottsbluff blend their police departments and work to ensure their laws are the same. “It’s twofold,” Rogers said. “It is to get the two books together.”

It’s also to prohibit these actions. Rogers said being spit on while performing his duties has been “very frustrating.”

He said anyone who does that now could be prosecuted under the spitting ordinances or under the modified assault ordinance, which was altered by the city last fall.

The new laws also ban “disorderly houses,” which is defined as a place where illegal acts take place that would “disturb, annoy or scandalize the public.” Prostitution, drug production or dealing, gambling, fortune telling and other illegal activities are some of the reasons a place can be termed a disorderly house.

Rogers said the new law would empower the city, after receiving two complaints, to send a letter to the owner and/or landlord and tenant. The letter will inform them that if another complaint is received, someone “probably” will go to jail, he said.

Rogers said in his 15 ½ years as a Gering police officer, there have been no brothels operating that police knew about. But he said there have been cases where a parent prostituted a child for drugs or money.

“It is here,” he said.

Fortune-telling has also not been a criminal concern in Gering, but Rogers said if someone was reading palms, gazing into crystal balls or looking into the future with tarot cards or other devices, they could be prosecuted under the new law.