BETHESDA, Md. — As autumn leaves begin to fall, Montgomery County’s landmark ban on gas-powered leaf blowers officially went into effect on July. 1, is facing an unexpected crisis over its enforcement. The County Council has been forced to fast-track new legislation to remove a key provision, citing fears it could unfairly target the county's immigrant community.

The original ordinance required photographic evidence to report a violation. Now, the Council is moving to pivot to an enforcement system based on witness testimony alone.

Protecting the Immigrant Community Sparks the Change:

The initial enforcement of the ban required residents to snap and submit a photo of a person violating the law. This policy quickly raised alarm bells among county leaders.

Given that a significant num

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