The Iowa City City Council, on a 6-1 vote Tuesday night, passed the loitering ordinance.

The ordinance will go into effect Oct. 16. It will carry a $50 fine for people who congregate in large groups and obstruct traffic. The new ordinance is complaint-driven, and it makes an exception for pedestrians who have the right of way.

The loitering ordinance was first introduced to the council, along with the juvenile curfew ordinance, at a special work session held Sept. 10. The past two considerations had passed by with a 6-1 vote at formal meetings on Sept. 15 and Sept. 29, with Councilor Amy Correia opposing.

— by Nicole Karlis