CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) - A motion to pass the hate intimidation ordinance was declined in a split vote by the Charleston County councilmembers on Tuesday.

City council voted 5-4 in regarding the motion to criminalize crimes motivated by the ethnicity, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender or disability status of the victim. Those who violated the ordinance would have been punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a fine of $500.

Some councilmembers argued the First Amendment makes this motion ‘outdated.’

“This is a county ordinance. It can only be enforced at the county level, which is a magistrate level offense,” District 9 councilperson Jenna Honeycutt said. “I don’t even know who would issue citations for this or what the standard would be. I don’t know who gets to

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