The City of Chicago’s Committee on Public Safety advanced a bill this month that would increase trespassing fines to between $250 and $1,000, up from between $100 and $500. The amendment to the current trespassing ordinance will now be discussed at the next full city council meeting scheduled for late September.

The ordinance, sponsored by Ald. Ronnie Mosley (21) is intended to take aim at squatters, but also can be used against those who trespass at other places. In the July 24 committee meeting, Mosley said it is aimed at someone who “is not only trespassing but is trying to conceal the fact by using forged documents or simply lying about their identity.”