California city may start giving KINDERGARTNERS misdemeanors for bullying

First-time offenders could be ticketed for an infraction and fined $100

A second infraction would cost $200

Third-time offense could bring a criminal misdemeanor charge

Children as young as kindergarten-age could face misdemeanor charges for bullying under a proposed law advancing in the Southern California city of Carson.

The Carson City Council gave preliminary approval this week to an ordinance aimed at persons, including other youths, who cause anyone from kindergarten to age 25 to feel terrorized, harassed or threatened with no legitimate purpose.

Carson City in California may start giving KINDERGARTNERS misdemeanors for bullying (library image of students pictured)

A final vote is set for May 20, The Daily Breeze reported.

First-time offenders could be ticketed for an infraction and fined $100. A second infraction would cost $200, and a third-time offense could bring a criminal misdemeanor charge.

The measure would also cover forms of cyberbullying.

Councilman Mike Gipson has said he hopes the measure will help make Carson a bully-free city.

Gipson said: 'We are going to protect not only the kid that is bothered in school, but when you leave school and go home, we're going to protect you as a city.'

But the proposed law has sparked controversy and despite supporting the idea, Carson Mayor Jim Dear said: 'We're not talking about putting a five-year-old in jail, we're talking about intervening in both the bully's life, who is a person who is hurting too, and the victim's life', Examiner.com reported.

