Santa Ana

Barbed-Wire Law Complaints: A law restricting the use of barbed wire, which recently prompted a flood of complaints to City Hall from people who received citations, may be revised to apply only to the spiraled variety, City Manager David Ream said. The city began to increase enforcement of the law about a month ago, after Mayor Dan Griset commented on the presence of the spiraled wire, called concertina, around some city businesses. Griset later said it is “absolutely incredible” that his comment triggered a rash of citations and he never intended for all businesses with barbed wire to be cited. The law, passed in January, 1985, prohibits barbed wire on any walls next to streets or residential areas. Griset said concertina wire, however, is the most dangerous variety and is not appropriate for city businesses. Ream said owners of property with barbed wire will be consulted before the law is changed.