Loiterers' Minor Infractions Targeted in Va.

WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Any morning along Route 1 in Woodbridge, dozens of workers gather at convenience stores, waiting for a job that day.

Now Prince William County plans to target those loitering day laborers, but not for loitering.

Responding to complaints about laborers -- some of whom may be illegal -- the county will take aim at loiterers who commit other crimes, such as public urination, littering and public drinking.

An arrest for a minor crime allows police to ask the laborers their immigration status.

"We need to take a look at our loitering laws and see what we can do with regard to those. There have been some constitutional issues with those," says Board Chairman Corey Stewart.

Immigrant advocates say any proposal that would crackdown on the people simply waiting for work would be unconstitutional.

A similar attempt to crackdown on workers in Herndon failed because of a legal challenge.

Stewart says Prince William County will use Herndon's experience as a guide.

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